Sinusitis decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current lumbar spine disability that is related to his military service. The other conditions were also found to be unrelated to service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for entitlement to earlier effective dates for TDIU, DEA, and PTSD. The RO granted these benefits on April 4, 2011.

The Veteran's residuals of FESS have been primarily manifested by frontal and maxillary sinusitis with headaches and purulent discharge or crusting, averaging seven or more non-incapacitating episodes and three or more incapacitating episodes over the last 12 months. As such, a preponderance of the evidence is against his claim for an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations to evaluate his service-connected conditions and the etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rhinitis/sinusitis and a higher rating for tongue injury residuals was denied. The Board found no current or past diagnosis of chronic sinus disorder, and the evidence did not support a finding that any current disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected conditions have been denied. The current ratings of 10 percent are maintained.

The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a deviated septum, sinusitis, and facial pain have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability at any point during the appeal period for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his recurrent sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, as there are indications that his condition has worsened since the last examination. The Veteran seeks an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for this disability.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis with associated episodic vertigo, but denied service connection for cerebellar ataxia. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Veteran's chronic right frontal maxillary sinusitis with no more than two non-incapacitating episodes annually demonstrated by headaches, sinus pain, and purulent discharge does not meet the criteria for a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for allergic rhinitis with sinusitis was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and thus denied service connection for all issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Veteran is currently assigned a 10 percent rating for sinusitis, but not higher, due to the presence of three or more incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment.

The Veteran's sinusitis is currently rated at 10 percent and the evidence does not show three or more incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, or more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting. Therefore, an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess his current conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, sinusitis and asthma in the November 2014 rating decision. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are now dismissed as there is no longer any case or controversy with respect to them.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher initial ratings have been denied. The Board found no current medical diagnosis of a groin pull or evidence linking the rib fracture to service.