Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for evidentiary development due to the Veteran's failure to report to a VA examination. The issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a sleep disturbance other than obstructive sleep apnea are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete military personnel records and insufficient development of her military service records. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if her current respiratory, psychiatric, and digestive conditions are related to her military service, including exposure at Fort McClellan.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for vasomotor rhinitis with deviated septum and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and medical opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his GERD, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, right hip disability, low back disability, and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back disability, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from August 1, 2009 to August 19, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted for IBS and his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and GAD. The remaining claims have been remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification of the etiology of the Veteran's COPD and other respiratory conditions. The Veteran was exposed to jet fuel and hazardous substances in service, which may have contributed to his current condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for vasomotor rhinitis from September 23, 2013 to July 19, 2019 and a rating in excess of 10 percent starting July 19, 2019 is denied. The case is remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral lichen planus and allergic rhinitis was denied. The Board found that a compensable rating is not warranted for the period from October 1, 2009 to August 7, 2013 due to dormant lichen planus with residual scarring. From August 7, 2013 onwards, a 30 percent rating was granted for bilateral lichen planus. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it manifested without polyps or significant nasal obstruction.

The Veteran's request for self-employment assistance through Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) was granted. The decision found that the Veteran has a serious employment handicap due to his service-connected disabilities, which necessitated selection of self-employment as the only reasonably feasible vocational goal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for allergic rhinitis with sinusitis was granted. The rating for eczema prior to July 5, 2017 and from July 5, 2017 to April 11, 2019 was denied. The rating for onychomycosis from October 9, 2016 to May 13, 2019 was denied. The rating for tinea pedis from October 9, 2016 to March 9, 2017 was denied. A rating of 60 percent for dermatophytosis with eczema starting from May 14, 2019 was granted.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new development and examination.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is rated as noncompensable prior to November 15, 2019 and 30% thereafter. The Veteran's chronic sinusitis has been rated at 10% from August 8, 2008 to November 15, 2019 and 30% thereafter.,The Board is remanding the claims for right elbow disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for these conditions are being reopened.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and allergic rhinitis were aggravated by service, while her sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities was found to be etiologically related to a pre-existing condition (degenerative disc disease), and her bilateral chondromalacia patella did not undergo aggravation during service.

The Veteran's maxillary sinusitis with allergic rhinitis is rated at a 50% disability rating, the highest possible under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, asthma, COPD, and esophageal stricture as secondary to his service-connected Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings for sinusitis, rhinitis, and throat disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in a loss or loss of use other than an upper extremity, and he is not service-connected for a severe burn injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation.

The Veteran's sinusitis and rhinitis have been granted a 10% rating since February 7, 2016.