Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of her claim for allergic rhinitis and recurrent sinusitis. The Board finds that a VA examination is warranted to determine if these conditions are related to service.

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

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues before the Board.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for GERD and granted it, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support a finding of in-service onset.,Service connection was also granted for allergic rhinitis. The VA examiner's opinion supported this finding based on the Veteran's reported history of symptoms during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected rhinitis and sinusitis, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, and bilateral hearing loss are all rated at the maximum allowable under VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on Housebound criteria, but found that he was entitled to SMC at the housebound rate from February 25, 2004, to March 31, 2004, and March 21, 2007, to April 30, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including audiometric testing and a clarifying opinion from the March 2016 VA clinician regarding exposure to burn pits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the etiology of his asthma, allergic rhinitis and skin disorder. The claim for an increased rating for adjustment disorder will also be remanded.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 70%, which meets the threshold for a TDIU. However, his service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unemployable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions, including fibromyalgia, vision loss, allergic rhinitis, and plantar warts of the right foot. The Veteran was not granted any compensable ratings.

The Board denied claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, bilateral foot disability, bilateral ankle disability, and skin disability of the hands and forearms. The Veteran's conditions were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's throat disorder, diagnosed as an ulcer, nasal polyps and allergic rhinitis, stomach disorder (GERD), and hypertension are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. However, there is no current diagnosis of sinusitis, and therefore does not grant service connection for this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including atrial fibrillation and stroke, are pending. The claim to reopen a liver condition is granted.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of stroke is not currently warranted.

The Veteran's residuals of ganglion cyst and sinusitis have been evaluated as 10 percent disabling, the maximum under applicable diagnostic codes. The evidence does not show that these conditions warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received within one year of the November 2008 rating decision, thus reopening the claim for service connection for allergies. The Veteran's current allergies are found to be related to his in-service respiratory problems.

The Veteran's back disorder is service-connected, but his bilateral knee disorders and breathing problems are not.,His left elbow disorder was resolved in-service. His acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) secondary to migraines is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis and rhinitis. The appeal is currently in a 'mixed' disposition as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Veteran's sinusitis and associated vasomotor rhinitis have been granted an increased rating to 30 percent effective July 15, 2015. The claim is now pending for any further increase in rating.