Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2016

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection for eustachian tube dysfunction, bilateral lung disease, granulomatous lung disease, and residuals of a staph infection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a chronic upper respiratory disorder, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected allergic rhinitis and whether it precludes her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, but no more. The appeal is granted for this issue.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to attend a scheduled Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from private providers and ensuring that all attempts to obtain these records have been made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches are related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The other claims of service connection have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative joint disease (arthritis), gout/gouty arthritis, rhinitis, and hypertension. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are supported by credible evidence of in-service acoustic trauma and post-service manifestations of the disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right foot condition and GERD, but the claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis with deviated septum is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and right axilla phlebitis are denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities during the period of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability and allergic rhinitis are being reviewed.

The Board has directed the VA to obtain an additional medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed chronic rhinitis. The current evidence is insufficient for a determination on service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis was denied, and his claim for an increased disability rating for GERD was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting either claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion by a VA physician regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA clinical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's allergic rhinitis. The examiner should also assess whether sinusitis and/or headaches are part of or secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, allergic rhinitis, heart murmur, mitral valve prolapse, and right knee pain are denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during his military service or otherwise related to such service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis, manifested by nasal polyps, warrants a 30 percent rating. The effective date for this increased rating is not specified as it constitutes less than a full grant of the benefit sought.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis has been withdrawn by her representative.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea and enlarged tonsils are also referred back to the AOJ.

The Veteran's chronic vasomotor rhinitis with recurrent epistaxis is found to be related to service, and service connection for this condition is granted. The Board finds that additional development is needed for the remaining issues on appeal.