Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including lower back condition, excessive weight gain, gastritis, hemorrhoids (rectal bleeding), and migraine headaches (chronic headaches). The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran now has allergic rhinitis that increased in severity during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and initial disability ratings due to new evidence received by VA.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and granted service connection for allergic rhinitis. The lumbar spine disability was not incurred during active duty, while the allergic rhinitis began during service and has been treated continuously since.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis was denied. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis was granted, but the appeal for sinusitis was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hay fever and asthma have been denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for postoperative scars of the left shoulder, and denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for status post Bankart repair of the left shoulder. The Veteran's depression was granted at 100% effective April 19, 2007, but his other appeals were denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinusitis and allergies), and asthma. The remaining issues of service connection for various knee disabilities, hip disabilities, a left knee scar, arthritis with painful joints, gout, bladder cancer, prostate disability, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are REMANDED.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral eye disability, allergic rhinitis, and PTSD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,There is no evidence of an in-service event or injury that could be linked to the Veteran’s current eye disabilities, allergic rhinitis, or PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of her thoracic spine and lumbar spine disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The claim for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis remains denied.

The Veteran's left and right ear hearing loss were denied as there was no evidence of current hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was also denied due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a disability for VA purposes.,Allergies, claimed as hay fever, service connection was remanded as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine if they are related to service.,Service connection for left shoulder disability, back disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disabilities were all remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional opinions.,Service connection for a heart disability (irregular heartbeat), hypertension, and allergies were also remanded as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine if they are related to service.,An initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was denied and the Veteran's appeal must be returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and remanded the issue of service connection for allergic rhinitis and respiratory disabilities (including sinusitis, COPD). The decision on the hearing loss claim is in favor of the Veteran. For the respiratory issues, the case is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions to determine if they are related to service.

The Veteran's request to reopen the finally disallowed claim of entitlement to service connection for left knee condition has been granted. The claims for service connection for bulging disc in neck and lower back, hypertension, and allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinus condition and allergies) are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis is not rated higher than noncompensable, as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because his combined disability evaluation (60%) does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The remaining issues of service connection for gastrointestinal disorder, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and migraine disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for thoracic scoliosis and low back strain, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, chronic sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to concerns about incomplete information or bias in the previous VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, COPD, and asthma should be remanded to allow for further development of the evidence.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for left eye nerve damage with exotropia and chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis and headaches are being remanded due to the lack of a SOC addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and his disability rating for a back condition was restored. The claim for an increased rating of the acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's asthma, allergic rhinitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for new examinations.