Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2001

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis and an earlier effective date for a compensable rating for his deviated nasal septum with allergic rhinitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, arthritis of the right shoulder, rhinitis, and low back pain are all service-connected. The bilateral pingueculae were not found to be related to service. The urinary tract infection was also not found to be service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis. The veteran's asthma was found to have existed prior to service, and the increase in severity during service is presumed due to the natural progression of the disease. For her allergic rhinitis, there were no polyps or significant obstruction.

The veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for diabetes mellitus, balanitis, nasal disorder (rhinitis and loss of a sense of smell), and visual acuity were denied as not well grounded. His claim for an increased evaluation for renal dysfunction with hypertension was granted at a 30% disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis and allergic rhinitis were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during his period of active duty. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not shown to be related to service, including his Persian Gulf War service. The RO denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including skin rashes, allergic rhinitis, heat/cold intolerance, photophobia, and high blood pressure. The veteran's claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The VA has granted increased ratings for anxiety with depression, sinusitis with rhinitis, and tinnitus. The appellant's left ear sensorineural hearing loss, hemorrhoids, residuals of a left radius fracture, residuals of a right carponavicular bone fracture, and scars on the left cheek and lower lip are all rated at their maximum possible levels.

The VA has determined that the veteran's nasal deformity and allergic rhinitis do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The veteran withdrew her appeals regarding the timeliness of the notice of disagreement to the March 1988 denial of service connection for hemorrhoids and for residuals of an injury to the back of the whole body; entitlement to service connection for an acute situational reaction, claimed as residuals of a rape; service connection for costochondritis, claimed as residuals of a sternum injury; and the evaluation of fibrocystic breast disease. The appeals are dismissed.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected allergic rhinitis with benign positional vertigo and tinnitus, currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not related to service and denied her claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee and a compensable evaluation for chronic rhinitis with history of tonsillitis and pharyngitis.

The veteran's TDIU was granted effective from June 12, 1995 due to his service-connected disabilities making him unemployable as of that date.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for sinusitis with allergic rhinitis is denied as there is no evidence that his condition meets or approximates the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6513. His claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease, right foot (fracture repair, second metatarsal) with plantar fasciitis is denied as there is no evidence that his condition meets or approximates the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5284 and 5003.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability of rhinitis and there is no evidence linking it to his service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's rhinitis to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected allergic/vasomotor rhinitis with nasal polyp warrants a maximum rating of 30 percent, as there is no evidence of chronic osteomyelitis or near constant sinusitis requiring surgical intervention. The appeal for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection have been granted, with the exception of the claim for hemorrhoids which has not yet been reopened.