Sinusitis decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sinusitis (claimed as residuals of a sinus cavity injury) has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disorder, chronic left and right ankle sprains, and sinusitis are all service-connected as they started during his military service and have persisted since then.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed headaches are not separate from his service-connected post-traumatic cephalgia (headaches) and therefore, he cannot be granted additional service connection for these conditions. The claim for sinusitis is referred to the AOJ as it was previously raised but not adjudicated.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing and issuance of a Statement of the Case on his pending claims.

The Veteran's preexisting chronic seasonal allergies with recurrent sinusitis increased in severity during her second period of active service, and the Board finds that she is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a more detailed accounting of his educational benefits usage and to address the appellant's assertion that he had about 51/2 months of service under Title 10, between 1991 and 1995, that was not considered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no residuals of the left femur stress fracture, no current disability related to the upper respiratory infections, moderate limitation of motion in the left ankle sprain, no current disability related to the right foot stress fracture, and no compensable or higher disability ratings for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. For scoliosis, a noncompensable rating was assigned prior to July 26, 2010, and a compensable rating was assigned from that date onwards.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional development, including obtaining VA, private, and nursing home records. The right elbow disability claim requires a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active service. Service connection was denied for sinusitis.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is linked to his service due to continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining all of her service treatment records and determining if she was exposed to asbestos during service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during service and is therefore granted service connection. The Board finds that additional examinations are needed for the remaining issues.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for sinusitis with anaphylaxis was denied as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis, PTSD, and anxiety disorder due to personal trauma. The appeal is currently pending as the RO has not issued a Statement of the Case (SOC) addressing these issues.

The Board found no evidence of a spine disorder or low back disorder in service, and denied the claim based on lack of credible evidence. The respiratory disorder was determined to be secondary to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is not service-connected. Tinnitus was also considered secondary to GERD. Hypertension was not found to be related to service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within the applicable presumptive period, and there is no continuity of symptomatology after service. The Veteran's claims for gastroenteritis, vaginal problems, pharyngitis/laryngitis, and sinusitis were denied as the preponderance of the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and her military service.

The Board found no evidence of sinusitis in service or post-service, and concluded that the Veteran's symptoms are better explained by allergic rhinitis. As a result, service connection for sinusitis is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and asthma are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining medical records.

The Veteran's sinusitis is currently rated at 30 percent, effective October 19, 2010. The VA examiner found the Veteran had three or more incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment.

The Veteran is seeking a higher disability rating for his service-connected sinusitis. The Board has determined that an updated VA examination is needed to evaluate the current level of severity of his sinusitis and all manifestations thereof, including headaches.