Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private hospital records from Penrose Saint Francis Health Services and providing VCAA notice regarding the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and multiple other conditions, have rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The AOJ has determined that she is entitled to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for an increased initial evaluation for allergic rhinitis prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a formal finding of exposure to hazardous chemicals during service and obtaining any outstanding VA or private treatment records. A new VA examination will be scheduled to determine if the Veteran's sinus/respiratory disability clearly and unmistakably preexisted service, whether it was aggravated by service, and if it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether chronic allergic rhinitis was incurred or caused by service, and therefore grants the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis have been rated at 30 percent since February 25, 2009. The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's chronic sinusitis from that date.

The Veteran's GERD is found to be service-connected, and she is granted an initial compensable rating for her allergic rhinitis and sinusitis with deviated septum.

The Veteran is granted a 10 percent evaluation for allergic rhinitis prior to June 8, 2017. On or after June 8, 2017, the Veteran's condition does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to her service-connected rhinitis, finding that there was no connection between the two conditions.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis, claimed as chronic allergies, is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral plantar fasciitis, have resulted in a combined rating of 100 percent as of April 20, 2015. Effective from July 15, 2016, the Veteran is entitled to TDIU due to his depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's respiratory disability, including COPD, asthma, bronchitis, chronic rhinitis, pharyngitis and other respiratory abnormalities, is being remanded for further development as the VA examination was inadequate. The examiner did not address in-service asbestos exposure by the Veteran or his pre-existing asthma.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service, but he had a current hearing loss disability in his right ear that began prior to his second period of active duty and improved during this period.

The Veteran's asthma, allergic rhinitis, and right fifth metacarpal fracture residuals have not resulted in the required criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation guidelines.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective March 20, 2006. The effective date of November 10, 2004 is granted as the date VA received his informal TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sinus disorder is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, with a history of an adjustment disorder and a depressed mood, is rated at 30 percent for the period from July 6, 2011, to November 27, 2016. The Board granted service connection for an allergy disorder (allergic rhinitis) as part of this decision.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing updated VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions.