Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinus condition and sleep apnea as secondary to sinus condition due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations, compliance with the representative's request for a copy of his file, and other procedural issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, and residuals of a broken nose were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.,Service connection was granted for the Veteran's residuals of a broken nose based on credible lay statements and medical opinion.

The Veteran's chest pain is granted service connection as a qualifying chronic disability related to his active duty service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.,Service connection for seborrheic keratosis, right knee condition, and sinusitis is denied due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder condition, low back pain, bilateral knee pain, bilateral ankle condition, and right bicep condition. The Veteran's rhinitis was granted service connection.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran’s hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, erectile dysfunction as secondary to hypertension, and painful urination as secondary to hypertension. Service connection was denied for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 10 percent from March 26, 2013. The Board denied a higher rating as there was no evidence of nasal polyps, which are required for a 30 percent rating.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for COPD, bronchial asthma, and allergic rhinitis due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and respiratory disorder due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand all issues on appeal due to the need for additional service treatment records and personnel records.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision can be made regarding the initial ratings for deviated nasal septum and allergic rhinitis, as the Veteran's representative stated that his conditions have worsened since the last examination over 4 years ago. The Veteran will need to undergo a new VA examination.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of February 1, 2017 for the awards of service connection for bilateral eye vitreous opacities, tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and/or allergic rhinitis, specifically related medications.

The Board has granted service connection for left inguinal neuritis and remanded the issues of service connection for left wrist disorder and non-allergic rhinitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his PTSD causes only occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, as it is related to the Veteran's back injury during active service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The VA has been remanded to obtain necessary documentation regarding the April 15, 2014 cervical spine fusion surgery and determine if any additional disability resulting from this surgery was an unforeseeable event or a known risk of the procedure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he has not experienced a current disability for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for dyspnea is denied as he has not experienced a clinically diagnosed respiratory condition during the appellate period.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected allergic rhinitis is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher 10 or 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disorders, including exposure to asbestos and other chemicals. A new VA examination is required.