Sinusitis Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, lumbosacral strain, myositis of the shoulders, hips and elbows, difficulty sleeping, generalized weakness and fatigue, and headaches. The denial is based on medical evidence that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated during military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's sinusitis does not meet the criteria for a higher disability evaluation based on the frequency and severity of her symptoms.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence showing the veteran currently has sinusitis or any residuals of an injury to his left eye, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be established. The claim for service connection for sinusitis was denied.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective September 26, 2003. His degenerative arthritis of the left knee and right knee are both rated at 10 percent. The veteran's allergic rhinitis does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation. His surgical scar of the left 7th rib is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. His eczema is also rated as 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's chronic sinusitis, including headaches and pain with purulent discharge or crusting, is currently manifested by more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year. The Board has determined that a 30 percent rating is warranted for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of her claims.

The veteran's sinusitis with headaches is granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss and arthritis of the hands and feet are denied as not related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis and laryngitis both originated during a period of active duty for training. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The claim for an increased rating for chronic tonsillitis, status post tonsillectomy, remains unresolved.

The Board has granted service connection for a septal perforation as a residual of postoperative status from septoplasty and assigned a 30 percent rating for sinusitis since January 1, 2003.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, and residuals of pneumothorax. The decision found that tinnitus resulted from acoustic trauma in service, but there was no evidence of a current disability related to residuals of pneumothorax or allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's disease, meningioma, and duodenal ulcer. The increased rating claim for residuals of fracture of the right elbow with residual traumatic arthritis was granted to a 20 percent evaluation effective from March 1983. The increased rating claim for allergic rhinitis remained denied.

The Board has found that the veteran's CTS in both hands and wrists, lower back disability including sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and sinusitis are all service-connected.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for the veteran's service-connected sinusitis, finding that it did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The veteran's asthma is rated at 60 percent effective September 4, 2003.,Prior to July 4, 2002, the veteran was not entitled to a higher evaluation for his asthma. From July 4, 2002, he is now rated at 60 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including consideration of the diagnostic criteria for intervertebral disc syndrome effective as of September 26, 2003.

The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary to clarify the current diagnoses and determine if any currently diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder, including gastritis and GERD, are causally related to the veteran's active military service. The veteran will be provided with an examination for this purpose.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU, but granted an effective date of September 20, 2000 for a 40 percent evaluation for his service-connected low back strain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings, hearing loss, and service connection for various conditions. The appeals were not successful.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected sinusitis, as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.