Sinusitis Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for seborrheic dermatitis is dismissed as no justiciable case or controversy remains.,The claim for service connection for sinusitis has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish a current disability related to service. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have chronic maxillary sinusitis and therefore cannot be granted service connection.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no showing of a chronic condition during service or within the initial post-service year.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for sinusitis, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any neck and/or right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic allergic rhinitis is attributable to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and service connection were denied. The conditions claimed, including hemorrhoids, parotid calculus and lump on the left cheek, skin condition of the hands, bronchitis, laryngitis, frostbite of the feet and hands, otitis media, compression neuropathy of the left side, bilateral knee pain and fluid, allergic reaction to a typhoid shot (chronic rhinitis), and exposure to ethylene and nitrous oxide gases were not found to be service-connected or warrant higher initial evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened, and he is now entitled to a 10 percent rating for his service-connected sinusitis with allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability remains at the 20 percent level prior to August 7, 2007, but any increase in severity after that date would require further evidence.

The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could support service connection for the Veteran's claimed sinus disorder and low back disorder.

The Veteran's sinusitis, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and diabetes mellitus have been evaluated based on their current manifestations. The sinusitis is rated at 10 percent; the diabetic neuropathies are each rated at 10 percent; and the diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, PTSD, IBS, sinusitis, and chronic allergic rhinitis. The Veteran was not granted any disability ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to address the etiology of her claimed respiratory and sinus conditions as related to exposures in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been evaluated, and the appeal is denied as there are no new or material issues to reopen. The current evaluations for each condition remain unchanged.

The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis was initially rated as noncompensable, then increased to 10 percent in June 2004 and further increased to 30 percent effective July 18, 2008. The decision is mixed, with the rating for prior to July 18, 2008 being granted (10%), while the rating on or after that date remains at 30%.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease and sinusitis have not been shown to warrant a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's sinusitis has not been shown to be productive of incapacitating episodes or other symptoms warranting an increased rating. The dermatophytosis of the left foot does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and low back disability. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient medical evidence to decide the claim of service connection for pansinusitis.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial disability ratings for his service-connected gastrointestinal and sinus conditions was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his GI disorder, as it did not meet the criteria for a 60 percent evaluation under DC 7346. For his sinusitis, there were no incapacitating episodes or non-incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, migraine headaches, respiratory disorder, sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, lumbar disorder, and poor concentration and recall were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine; headaches; and allergic rhinitis are all granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.