Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2012

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to verify periods of active service, obtain relevant medical records, and provide a VA examiner with a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death was related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active military service. The other conditions were either not shown to be present during service or are not considered disabling.

The Veteran's postoperative hemorrhoids with perirectal abscess and fissures disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, effective April 1991. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.,A separate compensable evaluation for pruritus ani is not assignable.,The reduction of the schedular disability rating from 30 percent to noncompensable for prolapse of the rectum was improper and is void ab initio.,There has been no formal claim, informal claim, or written intent to file a claim of service connection for asbestos lung disease prior to December 19, 2002. The effective date for this grant remains denied.,There has been no formal claim, informal claim, or written intent to file a claim of service connection for peripheral vascular disease prior to July 27, 2006. The effective date for this grant remains denied.,There has been no formal claim, informal claim, or written intent to file a claim of service connection for glaucoma prior to November 27, 2007. The effective date for this grant remains denied.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis with a chronic cough was incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's residuals of septectomy/rhinoplasty, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected nasal conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability has been granted, but his claims for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (migraine headaches) and allergic rhinitis have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sinusitis is a result of a disease in active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service and was not aggravated by any incident of his military service. Therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service connection claims for various conditions are granted, with the exception of those involving AWOL offenses. The conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing allergic rhinitis was not permanently aggravated during her service beyond its natural progression, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed eye disorder, and the Board finds that his current central serous retinopathy is unrelated to service.,There is no evidence of chronic allergic rhinitis during service. The Veteran's current diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is attributed to post-service treatment and is not related to service.,The Veteran does not have residuals of spontaneous pneumothorax that are the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is at least as likely as not caused by service, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition should be granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his authorized representative.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn regarding the issue of dental disorder. The Board finds that multiple joint and muscle pain, urethritis, prostatitis, chronic sinusitis, conjunctivitis, dry eye syndrome, night sweats (due to Reiter's syndrome or sarcoidosis), respiratory problems (sarcoidosis), blood in stools/hemorrhoids, and short term memory loss are all part of his service-connected Reiter's syndrome. The Veteran's right heel spur residuals do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. His sarcoidosis does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis began during service and has continued since, granting service connection for this condition. The right knee disability is not related to service or any presumptive exposure basis.

The Board denied service connection for herpes, verruca vulgaris, shin splints, tinea vesicular, sinusitis, respiratory condition/rhinitis, seasonal rhinitis, bronchitis, headaches and venereal warts due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination. The denial of service connection for PTSD remains in effect.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 100%, which meets the criteria for a TDIU rating. The evidence shows that his service-connected conditions have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and DEA eligibility during the period from March 28, 2004 to March 27, 2005 was denied as he had marginal employment.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant prior to a decision being made.