Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding direct service connection for allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 10 percent rating for sinusitis/allergic rhinitis effective May 1, 2015. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vitiligo was granted. The claims for increased ratings for right and left hand scars, PTSD, hypothyroidism, and vertigo were all remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for the claim of service connection for gastric ulcer has been dismissed due to his withdrawal. The appeals for service connection for allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), bilateral foot condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including due to herbicide exposure, is granted. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed respiratory conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep condition, increased rating for left wrist disability, and increased rating for back disability have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals prior to the Board making a decision.,For allergic rhinitis, an initial compensable rating (10%) has been denied as there was no evidence of greater than 50% obstruction or nasal polyps. However, from March 8, 2017 onwards, a 30% rating for the presence of nasal polyps has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, rhinitis, and heart disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran must undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to his active duty service.

Allergic rhinitis and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) were granted service connection effective August 26, 2008. The Veteran's claims for new and material evidence for sickle cell trait with bleeding and migraines, sleep apnea due to Gulf War exposure, erectile dysfunction secondary to hernia and medications for sickle cell trait, initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis, initial compensable rating for inguinal hernia, and initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) are remanded.

The Board is remanding several claims, including those related to headaches, allergic rhinitis, hemorrhagia with secondary iron-deficiency anemia, injury of the right hand and wrist, tinnitus, and vertigo. The AOJ must consider all additional evidence since the last adjudications in September 2016 and September 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, low back disability, headaches, and GERD have been granted with an effective date of February 18, 2000.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is related to service or his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sinus condition, finding that there was no nexus between his current diagnosis and in-service exposure to asbestos. The evidence did not support the Veteran's contention of continuity of symptoms from service.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral foot disability, and allergic rhinitis as these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review of records.

The Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, which include degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, tinnitus, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, left sciatic radiculopathy, reactive airway disease, a right knee baker's cyst, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, left inguinal herniorrhaphy, and chronic maxillary sinusitis. The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for eligibility to individual unemployability.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities as of June 10, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for impaired fasting glucose was denied as it is not a disability for VA compensation purposes.,PTSD service connection was granted with an effective date of December 29, 2016. An earlier effective date prior to this date was denied.,An initial PTSD rating in excess of 10 percent was denied.,Bilateral pes planus service connection was granted with an effective date of April 29, 2011. An earlier effective date prior to this date was denied.,Service connection for a skin disability was denied.,Allergic rhinitis was granted as related to the Veteran's active service.,The claims for cervical spine and sinus disabilities were reopened.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence for the service connection of sleep apnea and increased rating for allergic rhinitis with recurrent sinusitis. The GERD case remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's rhinitis, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and verification of his periods of active duty for training.