Sinusitis decisions — 2013

The Veteran's hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine have been granted service connection. The Veteran is assigned a 10% disability evaluation for hypertension, a 20% disability evaluation for diabetes mellitus, and a 10% disability evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine prior to March 16, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and his claimed bilateral shoulder disorder. The VA will also schedule examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete etiological analysis. The Veteran's sleep apnea is being requested to be evaluated again with a focus on whether it is related to his service-connected allergic rhinosinusitis or if there is aggravation of his sleep apnea by this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic right renal cyst and a chronic sinus disorder (including sinusitis). The Veteran's right kidney cyst was initially manifested during active service, while the sinus disorder is currently diagnosed.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, finding that there is no medical evidence or opinion linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on August 30, 2009 at St. Charles Hospital were not authorized in advance by VA and did not meet the criteria for reimbursement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725 or 1728.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an upper respiratory disorder, including chronic sinusitis and non-allergic rhinitis. The evidence did not show that any current sinus disability began during or was caused by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have sinusitis that is related to his military service.

The Veteran's sinus disability, characterized by nasal obstruction and hypertrophy of the turbinates, did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation prior to January 13, 2011, or an evaluation greater than 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound due to his service-connected conditions. Therefore, the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the current level of impairment resulting from her service-connected chronic sinusitis with rhinitis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, but denied the Veteran's claims for PTSD, chronic sinusitis, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of both feet. The temporary 100 percent evaluation based on convalescence due to surgery of the cervical spine in 2008 is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his rhino-sinus disability and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development to obtain updated medical records and for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected deviated nasal septum and sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic upper respiratory disorder, including recurrent sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, is service-connected as it is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's asthma was granted a rating of 30 percent effective June 1, 2011. The appeals for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis remain pending.

The Veteran's asthma, with allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, has been rated at 10 percent since the grant of service connection. The right eye condition remains noncompensable.

The Board has reconsidered the Veteran's claims and finds that there is no evidence of a left knee disorder, gynecological disorder, anemia, sinusitis, or hypertension in service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current disability is related to service.