Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2004

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including verification of service dates and obtaining medical records related to the veteran's injuries.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder and an upper respiratory disorder (sinusitis/allergic rhinitis), as well as his request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for residual burns sustained in service. The appeals were based on direct evidence, without any presumption or secondary relationship to a pre-existing condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The appeals for increased ratings were also denied.

The Board has vacated its decision on whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen claims for service connection for bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis, due to a procedural issue related to the timing of submitting additional evidence.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis, but these claims are being remanded to allow for further development including a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a chest disorder was denied as there was no evidence of a chronic low back disorder in service and no current diagnosis of a chest disorder. The remaining claims were not addressed due to the pending nature of other issues.

The Board has ordered additional development of the evidence due to incomplete information and unverified service records. The appellant seeks service connection for various disabilities, but his claims are remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and left ear hearing loss, including due to exposure to ionizing radiation are pending. The appeal on the issue of service connection for exposure to ionizing radiation has been dismissed. Service connection was denied for allergic rhinitis, including due to exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification regarding the veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased disability rating for bronchial asthma. The veteran is seeking a higher rating, and VA will conduct further examination and review his medical records to determine if he qualifies for a higher rating based on systemic corticosteroids.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for conductive deafness in the right ear, non-suppurative otitis media of the right ear, and allergic rhinitis as there was no evidence of active infection or suppuration.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for rhinitis and service connection for cesarean section and post-partum hemorrhage requiring hysterectomy as secondary to her service-connected pelvic inflammatory disease. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues, including notification errors and scheduling of a Travel Board hearing.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and residuals of a nasal fracture do not warrant an initial compensable evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and extent of his sinusitis and cervical spine disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of her claims, including scheduling VA examinations and ensuring compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected bilateral hypertrophic rhinitis and maxillary sinusitis with turbinectomy, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board denied evaluations in excess of the assigned schedular ratings for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, as well as asthma. The evidence did not support an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board granted a 30 percent initial disability rating for service-connected major depressive disorder and found that the veteran's leg cramps, ingrown toenails, stomach disorder, ulcers, low back disorder, hepatitis A, delayed stress syndrome, headaches, and residuals of a head injury are not currently diagnosed or supported by evidence. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the RO's decision on the claim of entitlement to an increased (compensable) disability rating for chronic rhinitis is not in compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 and requests additional development.