Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was found to have been aggravated by service, and thus granted service connection. The cases for rhinitis and TBI are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board finds that an additional medical opinion is required to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sinus condition, including whether it was incurred in service or caused by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinea versicolor remains denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, ratings in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, residuals of a left fifth finger fracture, and residuals of a right hand injury, as well as the issue of total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to October 8, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating of 50 percent or higher for PTSD has been granted, effective from the date of this decision. The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for his service-connected PTSD.

Service connection has been granted for arthritis of the cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, hands, right knee, left knee, migraine headaches, and sinus condition (to include allergic rhinitis).,Prostate cancer has also been granted.

The Veteran's son, A.U., is recognized as a helpless child due to his disabilities that rendered him incapable of self-support prior to the age of 18.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU prior to March 1, 2013 due to his voluntary retirement and inconsistent employment history.

The Veteran's service connection claim for allergic rhinitis is denied because there is no evidence of the condition during his military service and no competent medical opinion supports a link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's disease, bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis or allergic rhinitis, and mononucleosis. The evidence did not support his assertions of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation of 30 percent for migraine headaches has been granted.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The Veteran’s current diagnosis is considered transitory and not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to conflicting diagnoses and lack of exposure information. Further examinations are needed to determine the current severity of his allergic rhinitis, as well as whether any gastrointestinal reflux disease, elbow bursitis, or dermatitis are related to active service.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for allergic rhinitis was dismissed. The petition to reopen his previously denied claim for a back disability is granted, and the issues of service connection for a back disability, right lumbar radiculopathy, left lumbar radiculopathy, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis are remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for sinusitis prior to July 15, 2015 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or more than three non-incapacitating episodes with headaches, pain, and purulent discharge.,For the period beginning July 15, 2015 to December 20, 2016, a separate compensable rating for allergic rhinitis was granted. The Board found that the Veteran had seven or more non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis with headaches, pain, and purulent discharge over the past twelve months.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding his in-service exposure and complaints.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the lack of a nexus opinion linking his current conditions to his period of service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The examiner must assess the current degree of nasal passage obstruction and determine if the Veteran’s history of 'right nasal papilloma' and 'left nasal fibrous papule and hyperplastic sebaceous gland' results in greater than 50 percent obstruction on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.

The Veteran's service connection claim for allergic rhinitis is granted as the condition had its onset during active duty and is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, shoulder disorder, back strain, rhinitis, and GERD. The AOJ is instructed to obtain STRs from reserve and National Guard service periods, private medical records, and VA treatment records.