Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2018

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot because she has a combined 100 percent schedular rating for rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions, making her unemployability due to service-connected disabilities moot.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and a sleep disorder other than sleep apnea, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or related to active duty. The Veteran's claims for sinus and respiratory disorders are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding potential exposure to toxins.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, rhinitis, and otitis were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities that meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 0 percent for any condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination for his back condition and referral of his TDIU claim to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, right elbow disorder, bilateral foot disorder, sinusitis, and rhinitis were not found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's asthma, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, migraines, and sciatica, as well as their relationship to service or service-connected conditions.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted, as it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder.,The effective dates for service connection of sinusitis and non-allergic rhinitis are denied. The earliest date for these conditions is September 23, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including asthma and bronchitis.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of various respiratory/pulmonary conditions, including COPD, emphysema, obstructive sleep apnea, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, asthma/bronchial asthma, and allergic rhinitis. The VA is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a pulmonologist regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise, granting service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to his motor vehicle accident caused by medications taken for his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the effective dates for awards of service connection were not granted earlier than specified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for impetigo and folliculitis, PTSD, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and allergic rhinitis were denied. The appeals for higher initial ratings for PTSD prior to March 16, 2016; an initial compensable rating for tinnitus; and initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and allergic rhinitis are also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, asthma, left wrist disability, and allergic rhinitis with sinusitis prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment from December 1, 2011 through September 10, 2012.

The Veteran's sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, sleep apnea, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are all granted as service-connected.,An effective date of August 3, 2011, is assigned for the Veteran’s service-connected radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension. However, it denied the claims for secondary service connection for allergic rhinitis, asthma, COPD, esophageal stricture, and dysphagia to his service-connected non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand is denied. The Board has also remanded his claims for a respiratory or lung condition, to include chronic sinusitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis, due to burn pit exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam and the relationship between his claimed conditions and such exposure. The Veteran is also referred for further examination on issues related to Peyronie’s disease, benign hypertrophy of the prostate, skin cancer, and a skin disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 1, 2012 for the grant of service connection for various disabilities was denied. The Board found that the earliest possible date allowable for the grant of service connection is the day following separation from active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD was denied, and a 30 percent rating is granted for headaches. The Veteran's claim for service connection of a respiratory disability is remanded.,PTSD remains rated at 70 percent, and the Veteran's headaches are rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's knee and foot disabilities have been rated at the lowest possible level due to their mild nature, with no evidence of ankylosis or instability. The Veteran does not meet criteria for higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.