Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral knee condition and Sjögren’s Syndrome, to include Sicca syndrome due to insufficient medical opinions addressing her service connection claims. The Veteran is presumed to have had pre-existing conditions of allergic rhinitis and food and drug allergies that did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating for his deviated nasal septum, status-post correction, with septoplasty, and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to report for scheduled VA examinations. The Board will attempt to verify the Veteran’s current address and reschedule the necessary examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions, as no VA examiner has provided an opinion on their nature and etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep apnea, and tension headaches is remanded. The claim for a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple, non-compensable, service-connected disabilities, under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324, for the period from January 31, 2007, to April 17, 2009 is withdrawn.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 18, 2013, for the grant of service connection for tension headaches is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis was denied for initial compensable ratings prior to June 9, 2014 and in excess of 10 percent disabling beginning June 9, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but denied for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as the evidence does not fully address his ability to perform the physical acts required for substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that she is not so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and assistance from another person.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, as well as his TDIU claim. The issues include sinusitis, rhinitis, tremors of the upper extremities and head, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine DDD, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, GERD, and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis and bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis, finding that the Veteran's disability does not meet the criteria for a 10% or higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6522.

Service connection for rhinitis is granted, and the Veteran's claims of service connection for asthma and chronic bronchitis are remanded. Service connection for eosinophilia is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for respiratory disability, bilateral hearing loss, and gastrointestinal disability other than GERD due to further development being required.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from maintaining substantially gainful employment, despite her functional limitations. The Veteran is currently employed full-time with the federal government and has been since at least June 2007.

The Board has remanded the cases due to outstanding VA medical records and for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis is associated with his headaches, and the Board has granted service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for hepatitis C, hemorrhoids, rhinitis, sinusitis, kidney condition, cirrhosis of the liver, hemochromatosis, and arthritis due to issues with the character of discharge from his second period of active duty.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) as additional development is needed, including obtaining an examination and opinion on the Veteran's ability to work.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and correctly decide the Veteran's claims for service connection of right leg disorder, neck disorder, and chronic sinusitis/rhinitis. The issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, rhinitis, bronchitis, asthma, heart disability, prostate cancer, and urinary incontinence. The reasons are that the Veteran failed to report to scheduled VA examinations for these disabilities.