Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back disability, COPD, sinusitis/allergic rhinitis, and gastric ulcer due to lack of evidence showing a link between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities and seeks to establish service connection for other conditions.,The Veteran is also seeking a compensable rating for recurrent otitis externa-media.,The Veteran is seeking an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis with a history of allergic rhinitis.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for bronchial asthma, pseudofolliculitis barbae, lupus erythematous of the face, and Lyme disease.,The Veteran is also seeking service connection for depression.,The Veteran seeks service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, lupus erythematous of the face, and Lyme disease.,The Veteran seeks service connection for depression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis (sinus problems), chronic eye disorder, and hypertension were all denied. The claim for residuals of a shrapnel wound to the leg was granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic rhinitis did not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6522, and thus denied her claim.

The Veteran's rhinitis has been rated at 10 percent since the appeal period began, and no higher rating is warranted as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, GERD, and stable allergies/allergic rhinitis are each granted initial compensable disability ratings of 10 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD, chronic rhinitis, and headache disorder are all found to be related to his service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be provided notice of how to substantiate his claim on a direct basis, and the case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and a right hip condition, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and allergic rhinitis, finding that both conditions were manifested to a compensable degree within one year of service separation.

The Board has granted service connection for seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis) and denied a higher initial disability rating for essential hypertension.

The Board has determined that an effective date of July 15, 2002 should be established for the grant of service connection for rhinitis. The Veteran's claim is granted with respect to this issue.

The Board has denied service connection for a chronic kidney disorder and chronic sinusitis. The Veteran's claims for service connection of allergic rhinitis and gout are being REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for allergic rhinitis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis has not been manifested by polyps or obstruction of the nasal passages greater than 50 percent on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, which would warrant a compensable rating. The Board finds that a higher rating under DC 6522 is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis with chronic maxillary sinusitis and assigned a 10 percent rating effective from June 8, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence regarding the relationship between his current sleep apnea and his service-connected disabilities, including sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, spontaneous pneumothorax, COPD, and bronchitis.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied as the earliest factually ascertainable date that he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities was June 14, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis and granted service connection for it. The Veteran's perennial allergic rhinitis with seasonal acute exacerbations was found not to warrant a compensable rating prior to January 27, 2009, but from that date forward, he is entitled to at least a 10% disability rating.