Sinusitis decisions — 2012

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further evaluation due to the complexity of determining his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation given his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis is granted service connection. The issues of asthma and sleep apnea are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to secure pertinent records and obtain VA examinations.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for nose disorder, psychiatric disability, right knee disability, and sinusitis. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is being remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issues related to service connection for kidney stones, also claimed as kidney pain; a chronic prostate disorder; skin rashes; brittle nails; a chronic bladder disorder; a chronic neurological disorder of the arms and legs; a headache disorder; sinusitis and allergies; gastroesophageal reflux disease; and stomach cancer, also claimed as cancerous polyps in the colon and a cancerous tumor in the duodenum.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The highest schedular rating of 30 percent was assigned for the Bell's palsy, left side of face, post-operative residuals. No compensable evaluation was granted for bilateral hearing loss or sinusitis. Service connection was not established for prostate cancer, Type II diabetes mellitus, or a lumbar spine disorder due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a diagnosis of sinusitis and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found no current diagnoses of sinusitis or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board found that the clinical evidence does not demonstrate a current diagnosis of a chronic sinus disability as of October 2009, and concluded that the Veteran's claimed sinusitis did not have its onset during active duty.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine at L4-L5 and sinusitis were both rated as 10 percent disabling, with no higher ratings granted due to lack of evidence supporting more severe disability levels.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for the claim of entitlement to service connection for flat feet during his hearing. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, allergies and sinusitis, right heel disability, and left heel disability are not related to his military service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's respiratory problems, other than sinusitis, are found to be related to service.,Sinusitis is considered a preexisting condition that worsened during service.

The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected left knee disabilities, which are rated at 50% and result in unemployability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing. Service connection claims are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic sinusitis was initially rated as noncompensable prior to April 13, 2010. Since then, he has been granted a 10 percent evaluation effective that date.