Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2009

The Veteran's sinusitis with allergic rhinitis is rated at 30 percent, and his diabetes mellitus is rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, sinusitis, and rhinitis prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is related to his military service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral toe disorder, claimed as onychomycosis, is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee pain and leg cramps due to an undiagnosed illness during service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations. The upper respiratory disability (rhinitis), TMJ, and headaches are not considered related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and identifying all military medical facilities where the Veteran received treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's recurrent rhinitis and hypertension are service-connected, with no effective date provided as they were not diagnosed during active duty.

The Board has determined that the January 1994 rating decision denying service connection for a left shoulder disability was clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The Veteran's effective date for service connection of his left shoulder disability is reversed, and he is granted service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury initially incurred in May 1988. The Board has also deferred the determination on the earlier effective date claim until the RO implements its decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and anxiety due to a lack of nexus opinions based on thorough review of his history, including STRs.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, hay fever, eczema, and bronchial swelling as there is no competent evidence of current diagnoses or chronic disabilities related to these conditions. The Veteran's residuals of an appendectomy were evaluated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, so his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been granted, with a 10 percent evaluation for nonallergic vasomotor rhinitis and chronic maxillary sinusitis since July 29, 2004. The claim for GERD remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected allergic rhinitis, cervical spine condition, and left ear hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development and adjudication of his claims, including service connection for emphysema. The issues of rating asthma with allergic rhinitis separately and determining whether he has a separate service-connected condition (emphysema) are also pending.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected rhinitis, right shoulder disorder, and back disorder. The issues on appeal include entitlement to initial compensable ratings for rhinitis and headaches, as well as service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound is remanded due to unclear information about his current level of disability and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His lumbar spine condition was rated at 10 percent, his knee conditions were not compensable, his shoulder bursitis did not meet criteria for a higher rating, his wrist fracture had no compensable disability rating, his foot hallux valgus conditions were not compensable, and he did not receive service connection for a left hip condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a medical examination to determine the etiology of his claimed chronic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to accurately assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease as secondary to his service-connected lower back pain. The issue of service connection for a nasal condition, claimed as sinusitis or allergic rhinitis, is remanded.