Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vocal cord dysfunction is related to her service-connected rhinitis and grants service connection for this condition as secondary to her service-connected rhinitis.

The Board denied reopening and service connection claims for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and opinions to address the etiology of her musculoskeletal pain, cervical spine disability, respiratory conditions, sleep disorder, and gastrointestinal disorders. The issues are currently on appeal.

Service connection is granted for chloracne due to herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection is denied for umbilical hernia and abdominal pain.,Service connection is denied for low back disability, allergic rhinitis, ruptured lung status post staple correction with hemoptysis, heart disability (claimed as heart palpitations), facial skin cancer, colonic polyps, and hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand several issues for further development, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression), increased rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's representative also mentioned the need for additional development regarding non-service connected pension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities did not manifest during or within one year of separation from service and are not otherwise related to service. Service connection for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, status post pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor, and allergic rhinitis is also denied as secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective January 21, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of forward flexion or ankylosis.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was not found to meet criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6522.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right leg injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident in service have been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for service connection.,The Veteran's chronic rhinitis is rated at 10 percent due to greater than 50-percent obstruction of nasal passages on both sides.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and migraine headaches has been partially granted. The Veteran is now receiving an initial 30 percent rating for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's VA disability benefits were reduced due to the recoupment of her separation pay. The appeal is denied as the law requires the recouping of separation pay from VA disability compensation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied in previous decisions. New evidence was submitted and found to be material, allowing the claim for a skin disability to be reopened. The back injury residuals claim is also reopened. Service connection for sinus disabilities (chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis) is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the spine, anxiety and depression, arthritis of the knees, tinnitus, sinusitis with rhinitis, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal regarding the recoupment of separation pay for various disabilities, finding that VA was required to withhold this amount from his disability compensation benefits as per law.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable evaluations for right and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as her appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include simple phobia (now consolidated under major depressive disorder with PTSD and insomnia), have been dismissed. The Veteran has also been granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues, including service connection for various foot conditions and a request for an earlier effective date. The Board has not made a final determination on these claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in multiple service-connected conditions, including dysthymic disorder with major depression, herniated disc at the L4-L5, tinea versicolor (dermatophytosis), chronic rhinitis, and appendectomy scar. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in multiple service-connected conditions, including dysthymic disorder with major depression, herniated disc at the L4-L5, tinea versicolor (dermatophytosis), chronic rhinitis, and appendectomy scar. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current rhinitis is related to her military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis are not service-connected.,Service connection was denied for all three conditions due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or in-service injury.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for allergic rhinitis and/or sinusitis, bronchitis, anemia, and PTSD. Additional evidence is needed, as well as a VA examination for each issue.