Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2000

The veteran's rhinitis with chronic headaches and pes planus were evaluated, but the RO found no basis to grant increased evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for atrophic rhinitis, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence to support a finding of current stomach ulcers, an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, or allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying military service and obtaining medical records. The veteran's claims for increased ratings are also being reviewed.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings was granted, with the effective date being April 29, 1998. The VA assigned a 10 percent rating for chronic vasomotor rhinitis with recurring episodes of sinusitis prior to April 29, 1998 and currently rated as 10 percent disabling. For recurrent left ankle sprain, the veteran was granted a 10 percent disability evaluation from November 10, 1997, up to October 1, 1998. The temporary total disability rating for convalescence following hospitalization in August 1998 is also granted.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has established service connection for hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, rhinitis, rash, and PTSD. The veteran's claims are supported by medical records showing diagnoses in service and continuing symptoms post-service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a lack of justiciable case or controversy. The veteran's service connection for sinusitis is moot as it remains in effect.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of his service-connected sinusitis with rhinitis was denied by the Board. The decision states that the earliest correspondence referencing any claims is dated in February 1997 and does not mention a claim for an increased evaluation for sinusitis.

The veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is well-grounded.,His claims for a respiratory condition and fatigue as chronic disabilities resulting from an undiagnosed illness are plausible, but not well grounded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, allergic dermatitis, or endometriosis.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD warrants a 50 percent evaluation prior to May 15, 1995. The other claims for service connection were not granted.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and granted service connection. The claim of entitlement to service connection for allergic rhinitis is well grounded, as it is related to pre-existing conditions aggravated by sinusitis. Service connection for sinusitis is granted at a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for rhinitis with sinusitis, finding that his condition did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his nose and chest disabilities, as well as service connection for a respiratory disorder secondary to these conditions, were denied. The RO found that the current respiratory disorders are not related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis with sinusitis warrants a 10 percent evaluation, as there is no evidence of moderate or severe symptoms warranting higher ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fungal infection of the left ear, bilateral otitis media, and sinusitis/rhinitis. The right ankle disability claim was also denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen it.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected chronic bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, and residuals of malaria. The current evaluations remain at their noncompensable levels.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for special monthly pension by reason of being permanently housebound due to lack of substantial confinement to her home or immediate premises by permanent disability.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking the emphysema to military service or the veteran's service-connected disabilities.