Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection, but her initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for allergic rhinitis, increased ratings for right shoulder and left knee disabilities, and increased rating for hemorrhoids. The claim to reopen and grant service connection for low back disability was granted.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis with a deviated septum is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects his symptoms during the relevant period. For the lumbar spine disorder, the case is remanded for further development and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis, which manifests in recurrent nasal polyps, is granted a 30 percent initial rating from February 24, 2012 to the present day.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are granted, with the exception of his claim for a higher rating for left eye chorioretinal macular scar and his claims for ratings higher than 30 percent for right shoulder disability and cervical spine DJD. The remaining claims have been reopened and are granted.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) with residual scars is granted a 60 percent disability rating, effective March 30, 2009. The initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis prior to December 20, 2010, and any rating in excess of 30 percent thereafter, is denied.

Service connection for ulcerative colitis is granted. The Veteran's sleep apnea is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current disability picture.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from caring for some of his daily personal needs and rendered him unable to protect himself from the hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment. The Board finds that an effective date of October 14, 2011 is warranted for the grant of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as well as appeals for higher ratings for his right knee and chronic fatigue syndrome, were dismissed. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis but denied any increase in the rating for sinusitis with headaches.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's asthma is related to his service. The other issues remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for tinnitus is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, sinus disability, and gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and requests for additional evidence.

The appeal for service connection of a cervical spine disorder is dismissed.,Service connection granted for GERD and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in the claimed conditions, or that any such disabilities are related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the claims of service-connected rhinitis, hemorrhoids, migraine headaches, and right ankle posterior tibial tendonitis due to inadequate examinations in May 2014. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to determine the current level of severity of all impairment resulting from these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for allergic rhinitis and his increased rating claim for right shoulder rotator cuff strain were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for allergic rhinitis, as there was no competent medical opinion linking it to service. For the right shoulder rotator cuff strain, the Veteran's range of motion did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and sleep apnea are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected nasal fracture.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and he is granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis. The Board finds that additional development is needed to address his claims of upper respiratory conditions (including sinusitis) and pulmonary condition (asthma).

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's thoracic spine disability and allergic rhinitis or chronic sinusitis, and therefore remands these issues for further development.