Sinusitis Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected and non-service connected disabilities, including those related to a November 1981 motor vehicle accident. The claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain updated VA treatment records and SSA records.

The Veteran's sinusitis has been rated at 50 percent since February 28, 2013. The Board found that the evidence supported a higher rating for this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's otitis media, tympanic membrane abnormality (claimed as a rupture), right Eustachian tube dysfunction, deviated nasal septum with left septal spur, and mucous retention cyst of the left maxillary sinus and sinusitis preexisted his service and were not aggravated by it. Therefore, these conditions are not service-connected.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals, and the case is dismissed without prejudice.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right sphenoid sinus polyp with secondary sinusitis and bilateral concha bullosa is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral knee disability, sinusitis, rhinitis, and femoral radicular disability, are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee burn scar, but denied service connection for a sore throat and a respiratory disorder other than sinusitis.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims due to outstanding VA treatment records. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for the residuals of a back injury, a skin rash, and sinusitis. As such, these claims are dismissed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis and chondromalacia patella, manifested during his military service and is etiologically related to his service. The sinus disability, including allergic rhinitis with superimposed acute sinusitis, also manifested during his military service and is causally related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sinusitis with allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, headaches, bilateral epiphora due to allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, tinnitus, a tonsil disorder, and hearing loss, render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to July 22, 2010 for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine at L2-L3. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis, but his low back disability has manifested with pain and limitation of motion throughout the period on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tendonitis of the right elbow, postoperative nasal residuals (septoplasty), and sinusitis. The conditions are currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including as due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral wrist disability. For sinusitis, the Board finds that there are three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting from November 2, 2007, to December 7, 2009, warranting a 10% rating. Prior to this period, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for any compensable rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sinusitis is granted as the evidence shows a chronic disability that first manifested during her active service and has continued since separation.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis with headaches warrants a rating of 50 percent, the highest available under Diagnostic Code 8100 for migraine headaches. The Veteran does not meet criteria for higher ratings based on other diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disabilities, including sinusitis, rhinitis, and COPD, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding the severity of his service-connected sinusitis condition.