Sinusitis decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, chronic labyrinthitis, pansinusitis, headache disability, low back disability, neck disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hip disability. The Veteran's claims are pending with the RO via the Appeals Management Center in Washington, D.C.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examination of her service-connected conditions. The issues on appeal include increased ratings for left shoulder bursitis, thoracolumbar spine, PTSD, and allergic sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current sinusitis or hypertension disability related to his military service and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the Veteran for an audiology examination. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board finds that the Veteran has service connection for sinusitis, a cervical spine disability, and bilateral leg pain. The evidence supports these findings.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for sinusitis and hemorrhoids, as well as a TDIU rating, were denied. The RO found that the service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable schedular criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heat stroke, chronic sinusitis, deficient immune system, and osteomyelitis of the left lower leg as accrued benefits.,There is no evidence showing a current disability related to any in-service event or illness.

The Veteran's claim for SMC by reason of the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis has been rated as 10 percent disabling since March 2005, based on the evidence showing he had at least one incapacitating episode of sinusitis per year requiring antibiotic treatment and bed rest.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and unclear opinions in previous examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for mixed headaches, chronic rhinosinusitis, hypertension, alopecia areata, and high cholesterol. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions began during or were otherwise caused by her military service.

The Veteran's sinusitis has been rated at 30 percent since March 9, 2008, based on more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge. The current rating is the highest possible under the General Rating Formula for Sinusitis.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have residuals of a nose fracture and denied service connection for this condition. The rating for his ventral hernia was also denied, as it is already at its maximum schedular rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a low back injury (contusion) and nasal cavity synechia with deviated nasal septum and maxillary sinusitis are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities and consideration of whether an extraschedular TDIU rating should be considered.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his service-connected sinusitis and denied service connection for eosinophilic fasciitis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new hearing and issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) on the issue of an initial rating for maxillary sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition is not related to service or his service-connected left knee condition. The claim for sinusitis and rhinitis remains pending as there are no findings on remand yet.