Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinus disability, to include allergic rhinitis, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records review, particularly regarding her service connection claims for various respiratory disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic sinus disorder, including sinusitis and rhinitis, is at least as likely as not related to his service in Southwest Asia during his second period of active duty.

The Veteran's hypertension and ear infections or allergic rhinitis were not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits is denied as he did not serve during a period of war, thus failing the threshold eligibility requirement.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for an increased rating of his service-connected chronic allergic rhinitis with residuals of a deviated septum. The RO found that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the severity and symptoms of his condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis, finding that his current diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and asthma have been rated as 30 percent disabling, while his stress-related central retinitis serosa has not met the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased evaluations for asthma, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis. The Board has determined that the effective date of service connection for asthma should be in July 1983, not February 9, 1998 as previously decided. Additionally, VA must obtain all relevant medical records to support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, right elbow, shoulder arthritis, left ear hearing loss, and dermatitis. The appeals were not successful.

The Veteran's recurrent sinusitis with seasonal allergic rhinitis and migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, but no higher. The Board finds that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of her service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current chronic maxillary sinusitis and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's combined disability rating for his service-connected conditions is currently at 40 percent, effective January 1, 2005. The Board finds no error in the calculation and denies the claim for a higher combined rating.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 12, 2004, for the grant of service connection for her service-connected disabilities was denied as she did not file a formal or informal claim prior to that date.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and recurrent acute sinusitis have been rated at 10 percent since October 5, 2009. The rating is based on the current manifestations of his conditions rather than service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and sinusitis are not manifested by polyps, and the disability does not warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed respiratory disorders (sinusitis, chronic allergic rhinitis, and chronic bronchitis) are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis improved and no longer met the criteria for a higher rating, thus reducing his disability rating from 30 to 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (right ear hearing loss, sinusitis, rhinitis) are rated as zero percent in combination and do not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for ulnar neuropathy of the left elbow and chronic allergic rhinitis, finding that these conditions began during active service.