Sinusitis Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on multiple conditions, including lumbar sprain and migraine headaches, was denied. The Veteran's lumbar sprain is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's postoperative hemorrhoids with perirectal abscess and fissures disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, effective April 1991. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.,A separate compensable evaluation for pruritus ani is not assignable.,The reduction of the schedular disability rating from 30 percent to noncompensable for prolapse of the rectum was improper and is void ab initio.,There has been no formal claim, informal claim, or written intent to file a claim of service connection for asbestos lung disease prior to December 19, 2002. The effective date for this grant remains denied.,There has been no formal claim, informal claim, or written intent to file a claim of service connection for peripheral vascular disease prior to July 27, 2006. The effective date for this grant remains denied.,There has been no formal claim, informal claim, or written intent to file a claim of service connection for glaucoma prior to November 27, 2007. The effective date for this grant remains denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for sinusitis. The Veteran had chronic symptoms of sinus problems during service, and there is equipoise on whether she experienced continuous post-service symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right elbow disability, pharyngitis, low back disability, left shoulder disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's claims for hypertension (secondary to sleep apnea), right foot disorder, and bowel and bladder impairment were also denied.

The Veteran's residuals of septectomy/rhinoplasty, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected nasal conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for dermatitis, finding that the Veteran's skin condition had onset during active service. The Board denied service connection for low back disorder and sinusitis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. Service connection was also denied for left carpal tunnel syndrome as there is no evidence showing it began in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for increased ratings and service connection. The issues include a request to increase the rating for postoperative residuals of plantar fasciitis in his left foot, chronic frontal sinusitis, and right foot plantar fasciitis as secondary to the left foot condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a traumatic deviated nasal septum, which is considered a residual of an in-service nasal fracture. The Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss disabilities are not currently addressed as they were not specified in the original appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sinusitis is a result of a disease in active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and a need for further medical examination. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's TMJ dysfunction is found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of an initial compensable rating for sinusitis remains pending.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection as it manifested within a year of her separation from active duty. The Board found that asthma, plantar fasciitis, right foot, bilateral ankle arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome are secondary to her service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's sinusitis with residuals of sinus surgery is now rated at the maximum schedular evaluation (50%) effective December 2, 2011. The other issues remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the earliest opportunity.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis with vertigo and headaches, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated during his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn regarding the issue of dental disorder. The Board finds that multiple joint and muscle pain, urethritis, prostatitis, chronic sinusitis, conjunctivitis, dry eye syndrome, night sweats (due to Reiter's syndrome or sarcoidosis), respiratory problems (sarcoidosis), blood in stools/hemorrhoids, and short term memory loss are all part of his service-connected Reiter's syndrome. The Veteran's right heel spur residuals do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. His sarcoidosis does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for sinusitis, right shoulder capsulitis, and cervical spine/neck spondylosis.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the issues of service connection for sinusitis, bilateral ankle sprain and thoracolumbar spine strain.

The Veteran's sinusitis was productive of one or two incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, or more than six non-incapacitating episodes characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting from January 22, 2003 to March 8, 2012. For the period from March 8, 2012, he had three or more incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment.