Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of allergic rhinitis was denied. The Board granted the reopening of his previously denied claim for service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda due to Agent Orange exposure, but remanded the issue of service connection for PTSD.,Further development is needed to determine whether the veteran's stressor statements are corroborated and to conduct a VA dermatological examination to assess any skin disability.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all listed conditions, including those related to herbicide exposure. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider these matters as the appellant's request to withdraw his appeal is now in effect.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic allergic rhinitis and for increased evaluations for gastroesophageal reflux disease, left ankle sprain, and fracture to the left ring finger. The veteran's allergic rhinitis was found not to be aggravated by service, while his gastroesophageal reflux disease is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any current disabilities related to his active military service.,There is no medical evidence linking any of the claimed conditions (residuals of pneumonia, sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, depression, and chronic diarrhea) to his period of service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for urticaria and allergic rhinitis as there is no objective evidence of recurrent episodes of urticaria or greater than 50% obstruction on both sides or complete obstruction on one side without polyps.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected chronic bronchitis is being remanded due to insufficient examination findings. The examiner did not provide supporting rationale for their opinions and there is a lack of clarity regarding the relationship between the veteran's respiratory disorders, excluding COPD, and active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 20, 2004 for his TDIU award. The effective date was fixed based on when he filed his informal claim for TDIU.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations for allergic rhinitis and hepatitis C, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 10 percent or 20 percent, respectively.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, degenerative joint disease, and allergic rhinitis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the veteran's schizophrenia did not meet criteria for a higher rating, his deviated nasal septum with allergic rhinitis was not shown to be more than noncompensable, and there was no evidence of an ulcer disorder secondary to his schizophrenia.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no new evidence to reopen previously denied claims or establish service connection.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and service connection were denied. The VA found that his migraine headaches, osteoarthritis of the right ankle, asthma, allergic rhinitis with sinusitis, hypertension, residuals of a nose fracture, anemia, diverticulosis, and narcissistic personality disorder did not warrant increased ratings or service connection.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, finding that the veteran's headaches are associated with nonservice-connected rhinitis and sinusitis. Service connection was granted for chronic fatigue syndrome (formerly fibromyalgia) and irritable bowel syndrome, but the claims were denied as not meeting the criteria for higher ratings.

The veteran's service-connected asthma is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for his allergic rhinitis. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability and sinusitis and allergic rhinitis were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as they are not related to his military service or due to an undiagnosed illness experienced during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for chronic atrophic rhinitis/ozena, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable disability evaluations for chronic rhinitis and left ovarian cyst were denied as there is no evidence of continuous treatment required to manage these conditions.,The veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was not addressed in the decision.

The Board finds that the veteran's diagnosed sinus mucosal inflammatory disease manifested by chronic nasal polyps, nasal and sinus congestion, loss of sense of taste and smell, and sinus headaches developed in service and has continued as a chronic disorder up to the present time.

The veteran withdrew her appeal on the claims of service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis and major depressive disorder, as well as a higher initial evaluation for bladder incontinency and urgency.