Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2007

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right eye condition (claimed as homonymous hemianopsia), tension headaches, dizziness, and residuals of a head injury. The appeals were based on in-service accidents but no current disabilities are linked to those incidents.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claimed conditions of allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and rheumatic heart disease. The VA will need to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The veteran's initial disability rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted at a 20 percent level since December 7, 2006. The other issues were either denied or not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Video Conference Hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the earliest date possible.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and granted it. The veteran's claims for chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, and arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine have been addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for gastroesophageal reflux disease and maxillary sinusitis with allergic rhinitis as there was no evidence of symptoms warranting a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for updated VA examinations.

The Board found that the veteran's disabilities, while disabling, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes due to his unemployability caused by substance abuse.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need of regular aid and attendance due to his various disabilities, as he is able to care for himself and protect himself from hazards in his environment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected allergic rhinitis, finding that the evidence did not support an increased rating based on current symptomatology.

The veteran's claim for an initial (compensable) evaluation for service-connected allergic rhinitis is being remanded due to the need for further development, including pulmonary function testing and a separate rating if necessary.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a thoracic spine disability, allergic rhinitis, and PTSD. The appeals for increased evaluations for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, scar, and right index finger fracture were also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for any of his claimed conditions, and there is no evidence to support service connection based on exposure in the Gulf War theater.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinus bradycardia, right carpal tunnel syndrome, deviated nasal septum, and allergic rhinitis as there was no competent medical evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31, finding that he did not have an employment handicap and thus did not meet the criteria for basic entitlement.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, otitis media, allergies (sinusitis/rhinitis), shortening of the right leg, lower back pain, and arthritis of the right knee and hip. The appeals have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the veteran.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed because she did not file a timely substantive appeal regarding the August 2002 rating reduction decision.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the veteran's claimed allergic rhinitis, which resolves when allergens are not present.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and increased ratings for deformed duodenal cap (claimed as stomach ulcer) and allergic rhinitis with reactive airway disease.