Sinusitis Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to consider new evidence, including his recent complaints of patella dislocation and use of a wheelchair. The service connection claim will be reconsidered based on the current medical findings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine his employment status and whether he has an employment handicap that prevents him from pursuing vocational rehabilitation training.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for nasal obstruction with septal deviation and chronic sinusitis. However, new evidence does not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining SSA and Michigan State Disability Assistance records. The notice provided to the Veteran must include information on what evidence would be necessary to satisfy the elements of the underlying claims found insufficient in previous denials.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an ENT examination and for further review of the Veteran's claims folder.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for further examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a nose fracture, deviated septum, chronic sinusitis, or headaches disorder related to service. The evidence is against a finding that these conditions are in any way related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral foot dysethesias, pes planus, chronic sinusitis with headaches, and right knee chondromalacia are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including left wrist disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome with extensor tendonitis (claimed as right wrist disability), muscle deterioration with pain and aches, bilateral foot disability, tinea pedis, bilateral shoulder disability, and allergic rhinitis, sinus problems and sinusitis, were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted, thus the issue is dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and sinusitis have been evaluated as 10 percent disabling, with no higher ratings granted. The Veteran's right and left upper extremities were found to be mild in severity throughout the relevant periods.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, sinusitis, and pes planus.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for mechanical low back pain, left and right knee retropatellar pain syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, sinusitis, migraine headaches, hypertension, and benign prostatic hypertrophy were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for service-connected sinusitis, effective May 6, 2003. The Veteran's symptoms have fluctuated but the December 2007 paranasal sinus x-ray more nearly approximated the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation under DC 6522.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis due to insufficient evidence. The claim of entitlement to an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a keloid scar of the mid-chest is denied as there is no medical nexus indicating causation with service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's claims are supported by credible evidence of in-service trauma. The claim for tinnitus remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis of the right maxillary were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis and initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the current diagnosed conditions are not related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her service-connected sinusitis and hypertension, as well as the reopening of a claim for service connection for high cholesterol (now claimed as secondary to service-connected hypertension), were denied by the Board. The decision also noted that the Veteran had not been provided proper notice regarding the evidence necessary to reopen her claim of entitlement to service connection for high cholesterol.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic sinus disorder during service and denied the claim for service connection as there was no continuity of symptoms post-service.