Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2000

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for chronic sinusitis/allergic rhinitis was granted, and his claims for service connection for residuals of neck and back injury as well as a left knee condition were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a right leg amputation and chronic back strain, result in his inability to care for himself without regular assistance. The Board finds that he is eligible for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the veteran's allergic rhinitis/sinusitis had its onset in service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension. Service connection for a respiratory disorder (including sinusitis, rhinitis, and hay fever) is denied as there is no competent medical evidence of current disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant's asthma and allergic rhinitis were aggravated by service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical strain, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, sinusitis, and rhinitis as the evidence did not support a finding of more than mild or moderate impairment.

The veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis is rated at 30%. The claims for hip disorder, left shoulder disorder, and headaches are denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing current disability or a relationship to military service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected chronic rhinitis with sinusitis and bronchial asthma have been denied. The temporary total disability rating based on surgery in April 1996 has also not been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus and a right shoulder disorder. However, the claims for other conditions are not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for upper respiratory infections and allergic rhinitis, as they are not shown to be related to her active duty service.

The Board found no evidence of a well-grounded claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.,PTSD was not established as the veteran did not provide specific verified stressors in service.

The veteran's claims for sinusitis, postoperative pituitary tumor, allergic rhinitis, and hemorrhoids with rectal bleeding were previously addressed. The appeals for the postoperative pituitary tumor and hemorrhoids with rectal bleeding are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's postoperative residuals of a hemilaminectomy for a herniated disc at L5-S1 and allergic rhinitis, both currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and other disabilities render him unable to attend to his daily needs without the assistance of another person, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma and chronic sinusitis on a direct basis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, abnormal reaction to insect bites, head disability, neck disability, and right foot disability other than residuals of frozen feet are not well grounded due to lack of competent medical evidence showing current disabilities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and hay fever, chronic right knee disability, chronic left knee disability, and a chronic pulmonary disability. The claims are well-grounded as there is evidence suggesting these conditions may be related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's disabilities do not permit training to begin within a reasonable period; thus, achievement of a vocational goal is infeasible at this time.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for allergic rhinitis and reactive airway disease, finding that the disability picture does not more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating under either the former or revised criteria.

The veteran has been granted service connection for a deviated nasal septum and allergic rhinitis, both conditions that were incurred during his military service.