Sinusitis decisions — 2012

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, as well as his sinusitis, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for vertigo, finding no evidence of current disability or a causal relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder (migraines) and ethmoid sinusitis, finding no competent evidence of a nexus between any current conditions and active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), a left ankle disability, hearing loss, Meniere's syndrome, and a spine disability. The appeals are based on new evidence submitted after previous denials.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic rhinosinusitis has been rated at 30 percent, effective August 30, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, to include as secondary to sinusitis with allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sinusitis, an initial rating greater than 30 percent for status-post liver transplant with hepatitis C, and earlier effective dates for scar residuals of a liver transplant. The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities in January 2009 but did not request earlier effective dates.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development regarding herbicide exposure in Thailand and obtaining medical opinions on the cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits were denied. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted and others were not.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis with allergic rhinitis warrants a rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of his claim for increase in October 2006.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic allergic rhinitis (now claimed as sinusitis and previously claimed as breathing/nasal condition) is being remanded due to the need for clarification on whether his pre-existing condition worsened during active service.

The Board has determined that additional development of the evidence is required before a decision can be made on the Veteran's TDIU claim, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess her ability to secure gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran to be afforded an adequate VA examination to determine the current nature and extent of his sinusitis. The appeal is currently in remand status.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudicative action, including obtaining medical records from the Veteran's National Guard service and a respiratory examination to determine if the Veteran has a current respiratory disability related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a respiratory disorder, to include sinusitis and bronchitis, are not supported by the evidence of record. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee chondromalacia is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and right acetabulum fracture residuals, are found to be sufficiently severe to preclude him from all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current allergic rhinitis/sinusitis is at least as likely as not incurred during his active service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not require the aid and assistance of another person, as his psychiatric condition is severe but does not preclude him from attending to the needs of nature.,The Veteran's son, A.C.M., no longer qualifies for dependency benefits due to reaching adulthood.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.