Sinusitis Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for COPD, rhinosinusitis, and a right knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis is attributable to service and granted service connection. The hypertension issue remains pending as it was not addressed in the original decision.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic sinusitis and bronchitis disability during service or that it developed as a result of any established event, injury, or disease during active service. The Veteran's statements regarding continuity of symptomatology were inconsistent with the available medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for gastroesophageal reflux disease, hemorrhoids, sinusitis, and dermatophytosis of the right thigh and groin region as they do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability manifested by chronic sinusitis and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing not being held and other procedural issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for metabolic syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, gout, arthritis, rhinitis, and hypertension. The claim for PTSD was granted with a 10 percent evaluation effective July 23, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected deviated nasal septum and chronic sinusitis have been rated at the maximum available under current diagnostic codes. The claim for increased evaluation of chronic sinusitis is denied as there are no more than three incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a respiratory disorder, claimed as asthma and bronchitis. The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the Seattle RO.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability and denied entitlement to a compensable initial rating for postoperative residuals, nose fracture with sinusitis due to lack of evidence showing the disabilities were incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss disability, an eye disability, a low back disability, and a neck disability have all been denied as there is no competent clinical or credible lay evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for perennial allergic rhinitis with chronic postnasal drip is being remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's sinusitis has been rated at 10 percent since November 2003. The Board found that the evidence did not show three or more incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, and therefore denied a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinitis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of rhinitis is related to his in-service exposure to steel wool/wood fibers and his history of pneumonia.

The Board has denied all service connection claims, except for PTSD and abdominal scar. The Veteran's bilateral shin splints, left hip quad strain, GERD, stomach ulcer, residuals of a fracture of the right 5th toe, neck disability, abnormal pap test, ovarian cyst, constipation, hemorrhoids, left knee disability, and sinusitis have not been found to be related to her military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus did not meet the criteria for service connection as it was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and there is no presumption of service connection due to exposure to noise. The right knee disorder and sinusitis issues are pending and will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 60 percent, effective January 23, 2008. His chronic sinusitis has not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating by reason of individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding her employment status and functional impairment caused by her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of the required criteria for a higher rating in any of his conditions.