Sinusitis decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, sinusitis, and a neck condition were denied. The claim for an increased evaluation for CAD was granted but with limitations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis with a deviated nasal septum was pending since January 1972. The effective date of the grant of service connection is now set at January 19, 1972.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or for establishing unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Sinusitis. The evidence does not support a higher rating as she has had six non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis per year and no incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for sinusitis and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a finding of chronic sinus symptoms in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his service-connected nephrolithiasis, eczema, lumbago, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and osteoarthritis of the left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and sinusitis due to additional development being required, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for nasal polyposis and sinusitis, as well as allergic rhinitis, all claimed to be due to asbestos exposure. The Board finds that further development is necessary to corroborate the claimed asbestos exposure in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinus problems, GERD, PTSD, and sleep apnea. Service connection is granted for all conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that she meets the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of the appeals for increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral mild pes planus and sinusitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage rating standards for a TDIU and his unemployability is due to his service-connected conditions, resulting in an award of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation higher than 30 percent for chronic rhinosinusitis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for seborrheic dermatitis and sinusitis were denied. The RO found that the current evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board has reviewed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, eye condition, ear condition, throat condition, nose condition, and peptic ulcer. However, there is no competent medical evidence demonstrating a current diagnosis of any of these conditions or their relationship to military service. Therefore, the claims are denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current respiratory disorders are not related to his military service and thus denied service connection for these conditions. The erectile dysfunction is also found not to be caused by or aggravated by a service-connected condition.