Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease and allergic rhinitis. The case is REMANDED to obtain relevant medical records, including those from private ENT specialists Dr. Fibber and Dr. Mojtahed, and to schedule VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service or service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and adjudicating his claim of service connection for a heart disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and allergic rhinitis are related to service, while his umbilical hernia is not.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for her thoracolumbar spine, left ankle injury, rhinitis with sinusitis, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities. The evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis have been granted. The Board found that the evidence submitted since the April 1996 rating decision was new and material, allowing the claim to be reopened. Service connection is established for both conditions as they are etiologically related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining service department records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for shin splints and assigned a noncompensable evaluation effective September 1, 2005. The Veteran's cluster headaches, migrainous in nature, are currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA clinical records and a medical examination. The examiner will assess whether his service-connected disabilities alone preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and arranging for a VA examination. The Veteran contends that his sinusitis and rhinitis are more disabling than currently evaluated.

The Board found that the Veteran's nasal condition, including sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, did not preexist service and was not otherwise caused by or related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic left knee disorder, to include as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability was denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for ingrown toe nails on both feet was denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of the condition being incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that bilateral hearing loss, mild bilateral greater trochanteric bursitis (claimed as joint pain), headaches, and rhinitis are related to service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions must be denied.

The Veteran's claimed allergic rhinitis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is denied.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis has been manifested by obstruction less than 50 percent in each nostril and less than 100 percent in one nostril, without nasal polyps. The criteria for a compensable rating are not met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cholinergic urticaria, allergic rhinitis, and patellar chondromalacia of the right and left knees were denied. The Veteran was not granted a higher rating for his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been granted, but with noncompensable ratings. The claims for shin splints, neck pain, enlarged heart, and vocal cord dysfunction are denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for rhinitis and anemia, finding new and material evidence. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions began in service.

The Board has determined that the appellant is entitled to service connection for allergic rhinitis, finding that there was a current diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, its onset in service, and continuous treatment since then. The Board resolved all reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right shoulder impingement syndrome, left foot sesamoid fracture, status post right knee arthroscopy, allergic rhinitis, and migraine cephalalgia. The evaluations were found to be noncompensable under the applicable diagnostic codes.