Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as the Veteran's representative withdrew all issues on appeal in a September 2020 correspondence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to failure of the Veteran to report for scheduled VA examinations. The issues include initial compensable ratings for chronic rhinitis, right foot keratoderma, and basal cell carcinoma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his respiratory and gastrointestinal disabilities, specifically whether they are related to exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia during his Gulf War service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis prior to September 7, 2013, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is denied as the evidence does not show that he had at least 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction of one side.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is required.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted.,The reopened claims include headaches, sinusitis (previously addressed as sinus condition with hay fever and bronchitis), chronic fatigue, right ankle Achilles tendonitis, bilateral hearing loss, and skin rash. These claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The issues include sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disability, hypertension, loss of use of both hands, and left ankle tibial nerve neuritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to his upper respiratory/sinus/allergy disorder, as there is conflicting evidence regarding its onset and relationship to service. The case must be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for left upper radiculopathy affecting C7, claimed as neuralgia pains, secondary to a service-connected disability (central disc protrusion C3-4 with spur formation), is dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for a left shoulder disability, secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability, is denied.

The application to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches is granted. Service connection for migraine headaches, to include as secondary to service-connected multiple sclerosis (MS), is also granted.,The claim of entitlement to service connection for rhinitis is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disorder and sinusitis, including whether they are related to service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sinus infections and rhinitis, as well as any respiratory condition including asthma, COPD, or shortness of breath due to undiagnosed illness, are not service-connected. The case is being sent back for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, a respiratory condition (including COPD), and contact dermatitis due to lack of evidence establishing a causal relationship between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis was denied as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.,Service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease was granted, but no specific rating or effective date is provided.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and SMC based on housebound due to issues with VA examinations, exposure basis clarification, additional development of records, and income/net worth information. The claims are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, sinusitis and rhinitis, hiatal hernia with reflux esophagitis and GERD, but denied service connection for PUD. A rating of 20 percent is assigned for the Veteran's PUD since September 5, 2003.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and cough-variant asthma have been granted a compensable rating of 10 percent. The Board denied the claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disorder, bilateral foot disorder, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a nasal mucus membrane condition, including chronic sinusitis and rhinitis, finding that the evidence did not support his contention of in-service exposure to contaminants or pollution. The preponderance of the evidence was against the claim.

The Veteran's claims for viral rhinitis, ciliary dysfunction and/or laryngitis (claimed as a damaged trachea lining), and an immune system disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during service or post-service that could be linked to the Veteran's military service.,The Veteran claimed his current respiratory issues are due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, but there is no established connection between his claimed conditions and this exposure.