Sinusitis Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for an examination by an ENT specialist to determine the likely etiology of the Veteran's sinusitis diagnosis.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for sinusitis, and thus the claim is denied.

The RO denied service connection for hypertension, migraine headaches, right and left knee arthralgia, right and left wrist pain, sinusitis, and residuals of fracture, right leg based on findings that no current disability was shown.

The Veteran's maxillary sinusitis is rated at 30 percent, but not greater. The Veteran's right knee disability has not been manifested by limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or extension to 15 degree, even considering complaints of pain, nor has there been objective evidence of instability or dislocated semilunar cartilage.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and hepatitis C, finding that there is no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease. The issue of service connection for sinusitis is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective February 2, 2009. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in unemployability since that date.

The Veteran's hypersensitivity to light and sound, as well as blurry vision, are considered part of his already service-connected TBI. Service connection for sinusitis is granted due to continuity of symptoms and medical opinion linking the condition to in-service head trauma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied multiple times, and no new or material evidence has been received to reopen any of the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's right maxillary sinusitis is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, effective April 2, 2014. The Board finds that the evidence supports a grant of an increased evaluation to reflect his near-constant symptoms and incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various sinus and respiratory conditions, including a deviated nasal septum. The Board finds that further development is needed to determine the nature of his claimed disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's gout was granted service connection, and he received a non-compensable rating for his right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's hemorrhoids were also granted service connection with a non-compensable rating. His left inguinal hernia, impotence, tendonitis of the right wrist, sinusitis with headaches, skin disease, and meralgia paresthetica of the right thigh are all rated as non-compensable. The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted service connection effective September 20, 2007, and he received a 30 percent rating for it.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for peptic ulcer, nerve damage in the back as secondary to left knee disability, chronic back pain as secondary to left knee disability, sinusitis, headaches, and left ear condition (otitis externa). The Veteran's current rating for hemorrhoids remains at 10%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, sarcoidosis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD), glaucoma, and chronic sinusitis are all service-connected based on direct evidence of their onset during military service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for allergic rhinosinusitis, malaria, bilateral flat feet, and conjunctivitis. However, it denied reopening of the claims for TMJ, right shoulder disability, and other conditions due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's request for an extension of the delimiting date beyond June 22, 2009 for Chapter 30 educational benefits was denied as there is no medical evidence to establish that pursuing a program of education due to physical or mental disabilities was medically infeasible.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen previously denied claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of records. The issues include service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, chronic sinusitis, and sleep apnea.