Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2008

The Board granted service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied claims for service connection for neck and shoulder disabilities and an undiagnosed illness manifested by irritability, behavioral changes, insomnia, and fatigue. The claim for migraine headaches was deferred pending further development.

The appeal is remanded for further development of the evidence related to the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of pneumonia, restrictive airway disease, and rhinitis.

The Board denied service connection for seasonal allergies, acute allergic rhinitis, a chronic gynecological disorder, a chronic or recurrent kidney infection, and bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's pes planus was found to be pre-existing and not aggravated by her military service.

The veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for stress incontinence, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and hemorrhoids were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable criteria.

The appeal was partially denied, with service connection for allergic rhinitis and allergies being denied, while the claims for anxiety and depression were dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction. The claim for a skin condition remains pending.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for proper VCAA notice and development.

The veteran's sinusitis was granted a 10 percent rating, while his allergic rhinitis did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis as there was no evidence of the condition in service and no credible medical evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and an upper respiratory disorder, including sinusitis/allergic rhinitis, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and/or sinusitis, finding that the veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated by her active service.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for hypertension, allergic rhinitis, Raynaud's syndrome, a bladder disorder, a urinary tract disorder, impotency, residuals of a cold injury, depression, PTSD, and an acquired mental disorder other than depression and PTSD. The claims for service connection for a skin disorder of the feet, arms, and legs, and rosacea were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 2003 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted, based on a Notice of Disagreement filed in August 2003.

The veteran's service connection for PTSD was denied, while service connection for migraine headaches was granted. The rating and effective date were not specified for the other conditions.

The veteran's GERD was service-connected, and she received a 10 percent rating for chronic allergic rhinitis starting from December 5, 2006. The other claims were denied or did not result in an increased rating.

The veteran's allergic rhinitis does not warrant a compensable rating, and there is no evidence of a disability resulting from the removal of the great toenail of each foot.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for sinusitis, but denied an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for allergic rhinitis with sinusitis.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for chronic maxillary sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are being remanded for further development.

The veteran's hemorrhoids were found to be noncompensable, and the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for maxillary sinusitis with allergic rhinitis was remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for chronic allergic rhinitis, hiatal hernia with reflux esophagitis and sphincter narrowing/scarring, gastritis, and ulcer disease as secondary to the veteran's service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis.

The appeal was denied as the veteran's rhinitis and left ankle/heel disability were not related to his service.