Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and providing VCAA notice.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA respiratory examination to determine if the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or a service-connected disability. The examiner should consider the Veteran's assertions and his wife and daughter's statements regarding his sleep habits during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory and nasal disorders are related to his service, granting his claims for service connection.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sinusitis, and a deviated nasal septum. The Board finds that these conditions are related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and diabetes mellitus, type II have all been denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of these conditions during active service or until many years thereafter, nor is there any causal relationship to such service.

The Veteran's claim for a total evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded as the VA examination provided was inadequate and additional evidence is needed, including Social Security Administration records and private treatment records.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a chronic sinus disability, including rhinitis, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected nasal deformity with scar on bridge of nose. The Board has determined that another VA examination is necessary to address the conflicting medical opinions and determine if there is any causal or aggravating relationship between the Veteran's service-connected condition and his claimed chronic sinus disability.

The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed lumbar spine disability or allergic rhinitis during service, and the current conditions are not related to active service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis and hay fever are being remanded due to incomplete attempts by the VA to obtain his active duty treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left index finger condition, abdominal muscle tear, sinus disorder (including sinusitis and allergic rhinitis), and bilateral tinea pedis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis and determined that his pre-existing condition was aggravated by active military service. The Veteran now meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for back disability, reactive airway disease with bronchitis (secondary to sinusitis and allergic rhinitis), and psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder with depressed mood) have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new examination and opinion regarding service connection for allergic rhinitis as secondary to chronic sinusitis. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot gout and initial compensable evaluations for left elbow olecranon spur and allergic rhinitis, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, celiac sprue, irritable bowel syndrome with polyps, allergic rhinitis, and osteoporosis, did not have onset during a period of active service or were not caused by an injury or disease incurred in service. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation under any applicable rating code.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic nasal disorder in service or subsequent to service, and concluded that the Veteran's current allergic rhinitis is not related to his service. For psychiatric claims, there was insufficient evidence to establish an in-service stressor or link to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for COPD associated with his pulmonary tuberculosis is being remanded due to further development needed. The claims for increased ratings and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for muscle tension headaches, sinusitis, allergies and hay fever, and back disability as secondary to service-connected TMJ disease, right jaw tumor residuals.,An effective date prior to December 29, 1978, is not warranted for the award of service connection for right 5th cranial nerve numbness, right jaw tumor residual.