Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis and sinusitis with allergic rhinitis were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or a disease in service that could be linked to these conditions.

The veteran's respiratory disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling since September 29, 2000. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher initial evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for additional vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31 of Title 38 of the United States Code, finding that she was properly declared rehabilitated and did not meet the criteria for reentrance into a rehabilitation program.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a low back disability, pes planus with plantar fasciitis, upper back disability, eye disability, or rhinitis that is attributable to military service. The veteran's PFB was rated appropriately based on his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service medical records and requests for additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, visual impairment, rhinitis, and headaches. The claim for asthma was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Visual impairment, refractive error, is considered a non-disability for VA compensation purposes. Rhinitis and headaches were not shown to have had onset during service or be related to undiagnosed illnesses.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a nose injury, claimed as chronic sinusitis and rhinitis, based on new evidence submitted since the final denial in December 1999. The case is now remanded for further development.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for dysthymic disorder was granted, but the effective date of the grant is denied. The case regarding lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease has a denial due to lack of evidence prior to November 19, 1996.

The Board has determined that additional action is required to address the veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a medical examination. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a sinus disability, finding that there is no evidence of chronic sinusitis present in service and no competent opinion linking current allergic rhinitis to service.

The Board found that the appellant did not have peptic ulcer or rhinitis in service and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 30 percent for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, effective from August 9, 1994.

The veteran's claims for a compensable rating prior to October 7, 1996 and for an increased disability rating above 30 percent were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for either a 10% or 50% rating under the relevant VA rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for right foot disability, disability of the right lower extremity (claimed as right knee disability and right leg disability), tendonitis of the right hip, and allergic rhinitis. The veteran's pre-existing conditions did not worsen during military service.

The veteran's rhinitis is found to be incurred in service, and he is granted service connection. His tonsillectomy residuals are currently rated at 0% and the Board finds no evidence of additional disability warranting a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic sinusitis/rhinitis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae due to new evidence submitted since the final denial. The residuals of a left hamstring tear are not shown to have been present in service or at any time thereafter.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, but the effective dates are not specified. The veteran is still seeking higher evaluations for her hyperpigmented lesions.

The veteran's allergic rhinitis is found to be service-connected, and his tonsillectomy residuals are not considered disabling enough for a compensable rating.

The veteran's sinusitis and rhinitis are manifested by recurring non-incapacitating seasonal episodes of drainage, red eyes, headaches, and sinus pain at the rate of four per year that last four to five days. The conditions do not meet criteria for higher ratings due to severe symptoms or frequent incapacitating episodes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, an ulcer disorder, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and a skin disorder. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of these conditions in service or until after separation from service, and that the veteran did not engage in combat or have a diagnosed PTSD.