Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for a VA examination to determine the current severity and manifestations of her service-connected right ankle sprain with shin splints. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for GERD, allergic rhinitis, and left shin splints are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The right knee, back, tinnitus, ingrown toenails, left knee disorder (claimed as left knee disorder), bilateral hearing loss (claimed as bilateral hearing loss), lung disorder (claimed as lung disorder, specifically asbestosis), nasal disorder (claimed as nasal disorder, specifically rhinitis), and headaches have been denied. The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for withholding of VA disability compensation benefits due to military drill pay was denied as the evidence did not support his claim that he had fewer than 83 days of INACDUTRA in FY 2011 and FY 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially and materially to his death from accidental heroin intoxication, which the Board finds was secondary to self-medication of PTSD symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 are remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including a copy of the police report and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a head injury with residual chronic headaches is granted. The claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, thoracolumbar spine disorder, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, traumatic brain injury with residual headaches, and right knee disability are all remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims related to hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as for service connection for various disabilities. The Veteran will be provided another opportunity to obtain private medical records and participate in a VA audiological examination.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including enlarged liver, TBI, splenomegaly, vitiligo, subcortical white matter brain lesion, allergic rhinitis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and tinnitus. The Veteran was granted a 40% disability rating for goblet cell carcinoma with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and a separate compensable rating of 10% for loss of sphincter control associated with IBS.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was restored to a 10 percent rating effective December 27, 2013. The appeal for increased ratings of his low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development of his chronic sinusitis claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease with PCI, allergic rhinitis, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that he was engaged in substantial gainful employment prior to October 21, 2011.

The Veteran's vasomotor rhinitis associated with post-operative epistaxis and status-post ruptured left anterior ethmoidal artery with residual metal clip is granted a separate 10 percent rating, but not higher. The compensable rating for the left nose and eyelid scar residual is denied.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis did not begin in service and is not causally related to her service-connected right maxillary sinusitis with chronic rhinitis and headache. The Board also found that the sinusitis did not cause or worsen the sleep apnea.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis and granted it based on aggravation during active duty.

The Veteran's sinusitis and rhinitis are currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable rating for these conditions. For erectile dysfunction, the Board has determined that additional development is needed due to the lack of a VA examination addressing the secondary theory of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic urticaria and residuals of a right orbital bone fracture have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, these claims remain denied as there is no established link between the conditions and service.,Claims for migraine headaches and rhinitis (secondary to service-connected fracture of the nose) are also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinion regarding the Veteran's allergic rhinitis and cough. The Veteran is seeking a compensable rating for her service-connected allergic rhinitis, as well as employment considerations related to her condition.

The Veteran's benign essential tremor of the left upper extremity, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and a chronic headache disorder are all granted service connection due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service.