Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2017

The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis, a hand condition (bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome), and hypertension. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gout, arthritis, rhinitis, and hypertension are not related to his active service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and migraines have been withdrawn. The appeal for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability is being remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis with sinusitis. For the period prior to September 10, 2012, the Veteran's combined disability rating did not meet the criteria for a TDIU under schedular guidelines.

The Veteran's character of discharge for his final period of service from March 1997 to February 2008 is a bar to VA benefits due to the commission of offenses during that period resulting in a dishonorable discharge. The appeal has been withdrawn with respect to several issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a videoconference hearing at the RO. The initial compensable ratings for his foot conditions, skull mass, allergic rhinitis, and liver cysts are not addressed.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, hypertension, and loss of vision in the right eye are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions with service. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is currently rated noncompensably disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, post-surgery cyst of the nose and throat, and excessive mucus in the upper and lower respiratory tracts are related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and certain hearing loss disabilities were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in accordance with VA regulations for PTSD, and the Veteran's other psychiatric diagnoses did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's headache disorder is found to have had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection. The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome and joint pain/fibromyalgia are not due to undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, but the Board finds that they may be related to her service-connected PTSD with MDD. The respiratory disorder (allergic rhinitis) is also not due to undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and not established service connection for nasal/sinus disorders, hiatal hernia with reflux esophagitis and GERD. The Veteran's PUD was granted a 10% rating since September 5, 2003.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder, diagnosed as pes planus, was incurred during her third period of active duty service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise to show that hypertension, skin disorders, and allergic rhinitis are secondary to her service-connected asthma disability.

The Veteran's left foot tarsal tunnel syndrome is related to an injury he incurred in service, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition should be granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6522, as there is no evidence of greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, or rhinitis with polyps.

The Veteran's chronic rhinitis, stress periostitis of both legs, and scoliosis have been rated based on their current manifestations.,The Veteran has not had nasal polyps throughout the appeal period. His range of knee motion is painful but does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right knee condition was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board promulgating a decision.,Service connection is granted for chronic sinusitis and chronic rhinitis, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing existing records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable or higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected allergic rhinitis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.