Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2018

The Veteran's sinusitis with rhinitis is rated at 50% since October 20, 2016. Prior to this date, the condition was not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory and gastrointestinal disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence regarding his exposure during service in Southwest Asia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain, PTSD, and evaluations in excess of 10 percent and 30 percent for allergic rhinitis and headaches with dizziness, respectively. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of a low back disability or PTSD, and that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his allergic rhinitis or headaches with dizziness.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for sinusitis rhinitis and right corneal opacity/nebula, as well as his claim for a TDIU rating. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant records, schedule examinations, and readjudicate the claims in light of any newly applicable or revised criteria.

The Board denied compensable ratings for plantar fasciitis, allergic rhinitis, and hypertension. The Veteran's symptoms were found to be mild or not significantly impacting his daily life.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart palpitations, abnormal liver function test results, obesity, diverticulitis, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, allergic rhinitis, and major depressive disorder. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for appropriate examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of clear evidence to rebut the presumption of regularity that applies to VA's date-stamping of incoming mail, and thus, the earliest possible effective date is June 1, 2011.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for allergic rhinitis, shingles, and tension headaches. The claims for left foot arthritis, chest pain (costochondritis), cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and left heel spur are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and vasomotor rhinitis have been denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right shoulder conditions due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board denied service connection for rhinitis, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis has been rated at 30 percent since February 10, 2010. The Board found that the evidence supported a higher rating due to the presence of nasal polyps.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral foot disability, heart disability, skin disorder (claimed shaving problems), and allergic rhinitis due to environmental hazard exposure. The Veteran is presumed to have had environmental exposures during his service in Southwest Asia.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for tinnitus, Meniere's Disease, and asthma. The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for peripheral vestibular disorder, allergic rhinitis, and asthma are also pending.

Service connection for depression is granted. The claims for higher initial disability ratings for right ankle and left knee disabilities, as well as the claim for an earlier effective date for left knee scar, are dismissed. Service connection for a right knee disability and a left ankle disability is remanded. The claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied. The claim for an increased rating for sinusitis is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sinusitis, rhinitis, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, MDD and substance abuse in full remission) due to new evidence showing a current diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder and substance abuse. The other conditions remain denied as there is no current medical evidence or credible supporting evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and a new VA examination.

The Board finds that remand is warranted due to the lack of a medical opinion addressing whether sleep apnea was directly incurred in service and because there are outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, as well as his claims of exposure to chemicals during service. The appeals are also remanded for obtaining updated VA treatment records.