Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's nasal disability, including sinusitis, deviated septum, and non-allergic rhinitis, was incurred or aggravated in active duty service.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional VA examinations and further development of the record. The Veteran's claim for service connection remains pending.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the hysterectomy claim. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, sinus disorder, and right knee disorder have been denied. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for headaches and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether his headache disability is secondary to service-connected PTSD or rhinitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee disability, allergies, and tinnitus have all been granted. The conditions are found to be related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral shin splints, allergic rhinitis (sinus problems), GERD, and left knee disability are all granted. The Board finds that the Veteran had these conditions during his active duty in Iraq.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis, also claimed as rhinitis, is currently rated at 50 percent for the entire appellate period. Additionally, a separate 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis associated with his service-connected chronic sinusitis is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current allergic rhinitis is not related to her service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent prior to November 4, 2015 and at 40 percent thereafter. The hearing loss rating remains noncompensable (0%). The allergic rhinitis is also noncompensable.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and allergic rhinitis was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and bilateral hearing loss, and has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic sciatica during or after service, and the current disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5261.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 50% rating prior to October 6, 2016 and an increased 70% rating thereafter. The Veteran also received a compensable disability rating for migraine headaches and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is not manifested by 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides, or complete obstruction on one side, or polyps. Therefore, an initial compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis has not been satisfied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiac disability, right elbow disability, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disability (including a phase of life problem, adjustment disorder, anxiety, and depression), sleep apnea, chronic fatigue, rhinitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The rating for hemorrhoids was also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral toenail onychomycosis is rated as noncompensably disabling, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Prior to August 31, 2012, the Veteran's allergic rhinitis and septal deviation due to trauma was rated as noncompensably disabling. The Board finds that the criteria for a compensable rating are met prior to this date.,From August 31, 2012, the Veteran's deviated nasal septum is rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 6502.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an initial compensable rating for rhinitis, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. The case is now pending and will be returned to the Board after further adjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to service and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an upper respiratory disability (to include sinusitis and allergic rhinitis) remains pending.