Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2019

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent effective April 29, 2015. The rating for allergic rhinitis remains noncompensable.

The Board denied service connection for right knee patellofemoral syndrome, allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinusitis), and sleep apnea.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's residuals of fracture of the left index finger.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an allergic skin disorder, including urticaria and angioedema, is granted. The claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for left hip condition, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability is granted. The appeal is remanded for further development.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied due to lack of current disability documentation.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims for cervical spine, left shoulder, lumbar spine, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities were all denied. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis was also denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of obesity secondary to service-connected hypertension was granted.

The Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, GERD, memory loss (claimed as dementia), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, hair loss, hypertension, bladder disability, and gout are all remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is considered to have been incurred in service, and his right ear hearing loss had its onset during active duty. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.,There is no current evidence of a gastrointestinal disability or irritable bowel syndrome that can be linked to service.

The Veteran's appeals seeking service connection for a left great toe disability and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis are dismissed. Service connection is granted for sinusitis, but denied for bronchitis. A 10 percent rating is granted for restless leg syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for muscle/joint pain (fibromyalgia) has been granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disorder, respiratory disorder (allergic rhinitis), and neurological disorder (dizziness) are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including sinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis, is denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed conditions during or approximate to the pendency of the claim. Service connection for migraine headaches is remanded as there is evidence of in-service migraine headaches and post-service evidence of migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis due to exposure to toxic chemicals, as new evidence was submitted that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The case is now pending further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Gulf War Syndrome, Erectile Dysfunction, and other conditions due to insufficient medical opinions in the original examination reports. The Veteran will need to undergo further VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis due to a VA examiner's opinion that the Veteran's sleep apnea is less likely than not proximately due to, or the result of, his allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied increased ratings for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, but the decision was vacated due to a lack of due process.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and provided competent and credible testimony regarding his symptoms during service.,Service connection for right fifth finger injury was denied due to lack of continuity of care, despite the Veteran's lay statements. A VA examination will be required to address this issue.,The Board found that there is no current evidence of a right knee disorder or low back disorder related to service. An adequate VA examination is needed to clarify these issues.,Service connection for skin disorder was denied due to lack of continuity of care, despite the Veteran's lay statements and testimony regarding his symptoms during service. An adequate VA examination is required to address this issue.,The claim for respiratory disorder was reopened based on new evidence (diagnosis of bronchitis). The Board found that there is a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim with further examination and medical opinion.,

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorder, specifically pulmonary nodules. The VA needs to schedule a new examination and provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to in-service sinusitis and upper respiratory infections, or exposure to trees while serving as an infantryman.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to October 20, 2010 and a rating in excess of 10 percent beginning October 20, 2010. The Veteran's PTSD was also denied as he did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was found to have greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides but no nasal polyps, which does not warrant a compensable rating. The Veteran's PTSD resulted in moderate to severe occupational and social impairment with symptoms such as depression, paranoia, irritability, anger, suspiciousness, and sleep impairment.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for allergic rhinitis and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current severity.