Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensable ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The appeal for service connection of a left elbow condition is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus has been granted, but the other issues are remanded.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the December 2008 rating decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims for service connection of hypothyroidism, allergic rhinitis, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not conditions entitled to presumptive service connection based upon his in-service exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for allergic rhinitis and lumbar degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for a right knee disability, residuals of heat exhaustion, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, heart disability, rashes on upper arms and lower legs, residuals of insect bites, and residuals of a head injury. The reasons include incomplete medical records and the need for further examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for paranasal sinus condition, allergic rhinitis, diabetes mellitus, right hip disability, and thyroid condition are all denied. The claim for service connection for a paranasal sinus condition is granted as new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital due to an emergency condition, finding that no actual medical emergency existed on August 31, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a respiratory disorder other than sinusitis and rhinitis, claimed as chronic pneumonia and chronic bronchitis, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's headaches are now rated at 30 percent effective February 1, 2017. Prior to that date, her noncompensable service-connected disabilities (sinusitis and allergic rhinitis) were found to interfere with normal employability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis due to new evidence. The Veteran is also being asked to provide updated VA treatment records.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions, including memory loss, bilateral hearing loss, sinus disability, skin disability, and increased ratings for chronic lower back pain with degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, and chronic nonallergic rhinitis. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hemorrhoids and chronic rhinitis as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his dental, respiratory, joint pain, low back pain, hypertension, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction conditions. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for allergic rhinitis and plantar fasciitis due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding post-service treatment records and continuous symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected frontal sinusitis, to include chronic rhinitis. The Board grants service connection for sleep apnea based on the secondary theory of service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for wheezing of the lungs due to asbestos exposure, as it is unclear if his current respiratory disorders are related to military service. The case will be further developed and an examination will be scheduled.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis was denied, and his claim for a prior effective date for the 10% rating for allergic rhinitis was also denied.,The Board found that there is no evidence of nasal polyps prior to November 2017, which prevents a higher rating. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 30% rating for sinusitis was remanded as the VA did not receive a timely statement of the case.

The Board denied service connection for herpes simplex virus type II due to lack of evidence of a current disability and no in-service incurrence. The cases for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and allergic rhinitis are remanded as the Veteran's representative asserted that their severity has increased since the last VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and a respiratory disorder, but has denied service connection for pulmonary vascular disease. The remaining issues of service connection for bronchiectasis and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorder, specifically whether it is related to service or herbicide exposure. The VA examiner needs to provide a more comprehensive opinion considering all relevant medical history and diagnoses.