Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2008

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea on the basis of aggravation, finding that it is more likely than not that the appellant's service-connected sinusitis and rhinitis have permanently worsened his underlying sleep apnea disorder.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including headaches, lumbosacral strain, left hip strain, allergic rhinitis (claimed as nose/sinus condition), pes planus of the right foot, hemorrhoids, and disability manifested by dizziness.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations and the obtaining of medical records to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for contact dermatitis of the feet and perennial allergic rhinitis, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for contact dermatitis. The claim for perennial allergic rhinitis was remanded due to a lack of medical records.

The Board has ordered additional development of the veteran's service medical records, including those from Ft. Bliss and Ft. Huachuca, to determine if there is evidence linking his claimed conditions to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to the veteran's upper and lower back, right knee, left eye, or allergic rhinitis conditions. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis with sinusitis and headaches, finding that her disability more closely approximates the criteria for such an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic non-allergic rhinitis with recurrent sinusitis began during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's sinusitis with vasomotor rhinitis did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as it did not result in moderate crusting and ozena, atrophic changes; frequent incapacitating recurrences, severe and frequent headaches, frequent purulent discharge or any crusting reflecting purulence; three or more incapacitating episodes per year or six or more non-incapacitating episodes per year; or nasal polyps.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a low back disability, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his claim of allergic rhinitis and deviated nasal septum. The Board also found that PTSD was not incurred in service and that the current low back disability is unrelated to disease or injury during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to new evidence received since the last rating decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, as well as a compensable evaluation for tinea pedis (bilateral feet). The Board found that the veteran did not have these conditions during his periods of active duty or due to exposure to chemicals in the Persian Gulf. His preexisting condition was not aggravated by his last period of service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for a rotator cuff tear of the right shoulder, mild degenerative spondylosis with spurring of bodies C2-C5, and allergic rhinitis. The claim for bipolar disorder is pending as it pertains to an appeal from another RO. The TDIU and pension claims are also pending.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and a need for further review.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, headaches, upper respiratory disability, bilateral foot disorder, and OSA. The veteran was also denied entitlement to special monthly pension on account of being housebound or in need of aid and attendance due to his disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions of sinusitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis, and glomerulonephritis were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence is against her claim.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board restored the veteran's 30 percent rating for sinusitis/allergic rhinitis, effective February 1 to December 5, 2006.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatic fever, heart disability, arthritis of the lumbar spine, peptic ulcer disease, adenocarcinoma of the stomach, hypertension, rhinitis, and sinusitis with headaches. The veteran did not have a diagnosis of rheumatic fever during or after his military service.

The veteran's service-connected right knee and bilateral foot conditions are currently rated appropriately, with no evidence of new or material evidence to reopen the claims. The veteran's sinusitis is not manifested by incapacitating episodes per year or more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year.