Sinusitis Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's motion to revise the September 3, 2010 decision that denied an effective date prior to June 16, 1998 for service connection of maxillary sinusitis. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the decision.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further development, including the provision of an examination and consideration of whether his service-connected conditions alone rendered him unemployable prior to August 15, 2000.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis, hypertension, and hypertensive heart disease. The compensable rating for sinusitis claim was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service and have been continuously present since then.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a deviated nasal septum was denied, and his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending. The Board finds that additional development is needed before the claims can be adjudicated.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinus disorder (claimed as sinusitis), and obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection in all three cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's nasal spur disorder manifested by nosebleeds and his sinusitis are service-connected. The nasal spur is found to be related to service, while the sinusitis is also found to be related to service due to its chronic nature.

The Veteran's sinusitis and GERD have been granted service connection, but the initial rating for GERD remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, porphyria cutanea tarda (PCD), and PTSD. The Veteran's reports of in-service stressors are deemed unreliable.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including leukemic mononucleosis, lymphoma, deep white matter deviation to include memory loss, headaches other than sinusitis with headaches, bilateral hearing loss disability, bilateral inner ear nerve damage to include vertigo and loss of balance, right-sided tongue paralysis, right-sided vocal cord paralysis, residuals of strep throat with heart murmur, right-sided neck gland swelling with difficulty swallowing and a near-esophageal knot, right shoulder rotator cuff disability, bilateral hand nerve damage, brittle fingernails, heart palpitations, hypertension, bilateral leg disorder to include weakness, edema, vascular deterioration, and varicose veins, bilateral knee disorder to include cartilage deterioration, bone grinding, and fatigue, bilateral ankle disorder to include edema, bilateral foot nerve damage to include the balls of the feet and the toes, brittle toenails, residuals of pneumonia, and dry skin. The claims were denied as not being related to service or any other basis.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including for his lung condition and left testicular atrophy.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including nightmares and anxiety, resulted in reduced reliability and productivity. The current rating of 100% is appropriate.,For tension headaches from May 14, 2010 onwards, the Veteran has been granted a maximum schedular disability rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating, and thus denies her claim for an increased evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his respiratory disorder, including whether it is related to service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, as well as left maxillary sinus cancer. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis or allergic rhinitis, and that the Veteran's left maxillary sinus cancer did not manifest during or as a result of active military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination. The issues of increased rating for dermatofibrosarcoma, service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes, and service connection for a head disorder are being remanded.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have sinusitis or asthma that were incurred in service, and therefore denies both claims.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and multiple joint pain. The Veteran's current sinus disorder was not found to be related to his active service or due to exposure to toxins including CARC paint.