Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2019

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, while her back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are not. The claims for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, migraines (secondary), and gastroesophageal or gastrointestinal disorders are remanded.,Service connection for a back disability is denied due to lack of credible evidence linking the condition to service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and secondary service connection for migraines and gastroesophageal or gastrointestinal disorders are also remanded.

The Veteran's rhinitis, asthma, skin disability (including seborrheic dermatitis, actinic keratosis, and xerosis), and right foot fungus are being remanded for further development due to inadequate medical opinions.,The Board is seeking additional information on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis, asthma and associated COPD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression), and obstructive sleep apnea. The remaining issues of service connection for sensorineural bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including a right wrist disability, allergic rhinitis, residuals of left wrist fracture, Bell's Palsy, recurrent prostatitis, and a left wrist scar. The appeals are dismissed or remanded as appropriate.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and evidence not being addressed in the previous decision. The Veteran's sleep apnea is now under review with a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating greater than 10 percent for allergic rhinitis is dismissed because the issue was previously adjudicated by a final Board decision, and any subsequent notice of disagreement was not valid.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 50 percent disabling since June 27, 2015. The appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of head trauma, eczema, rhinitis, sinusitis, postoperative colon cancer (residuals other than scars), irritable bowel syndrome, and anal fissures are all denied.,Service connection is not granted for PFB.

The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are each rated at 10 percent. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of herpes simplex virus (HSV), finding that it began in service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and ratings for certain disabilities. The specific issues include dental disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, ear infections, sleep apnea, arm and elbow disorders, frostbite residuals, low back disorder, sciatic nerve disorder, psychiatric disorders, pes planus, gout in the lower extremities, bronchial asthma, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's rhinitis has not been shown to involve greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, so the claim for a compensable rating is denied.

The appeal to establish that a Substantive Appeal of the September 29, 2014 rating decision was timely filed is granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and effective date prior to January 9, 2013, for SMC at the housebound rate is denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral glaucoma, diabetes mellitus type II, allergic rhinitis, inability to tolerate medication, and fatty liver. The Veteran's claims were remanded for further action on heart disability, hypertension rating, and TDIU.

The claim for service connection for high cholesterol has been dismissed.,The previously denied claim for service connection for a left ankle condition is reopened, but the new evidence does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The claim to reopen service connection for various conditions is granted. The claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and potential VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection for gastrointestinal problems/irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to Gulf War environmental hazards has been granted. However, his earlier effective date claims for sinusitis and rhinitis have been denied.,The Veteran was previously denied an earlier effective date for sinusitis because he did not request it during the May 2012 phone call. The September 13, 2013 VA Form 21-4318 is considered his first formal claim for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and non-allergic rhinitis due to conflicting medical opinions. Additional development is needed, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a recurrent respiratory disability and a recurrent urinary disability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and lack of representation, requiring additional VA examinations and consideration of all evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for an examination and retrospective medical opinion regarding his allergic rhinitis, as ameliorative effects of medication are disregarded.