Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current sleep apnea is causally related to his active service and specifically due to his already service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent chronic sinusitis (also claimed as allergic rhinitis) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but denied service connection for a right knee condition. The decision is based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for arthritis, flat feet, OSA, and respiratory disorder (including allergic rhinitis and sinusitis) are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records and undergo further examinations.

The Board has added new medical evidence to the record and has decided that some of the Veteran's claims for service connection need to be reconsidered. The issues have been remanded for further action.

The Veteran's sinusitis with headaches was granted a 30 percent rating from December 15, 2010 to October 2, 2012. The initial ratings for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis with headaches prior to this period were denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, gout, degenerative bone disease, and allergic rhinitis (claimed as allergies) due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for asthma and allergic rhinitis due to insufficient opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to be provided with VA examinations to determine whether his conditions had onset during or were caused by his active service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for allergic rhinitis, sinus disability, left knee and ankle disabilities, foot disabilities, cold injury residuals of the feet, and eye disabilities. The cases are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's sinusitis and migraine headaches are granted with initial ratings, but the rating for allergic rhinitis is denied. The Veteran's migraine headaches require a remand to obtain updated evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for periodontal gum disease and hepatitis A have been denied. The Board has remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran was not granted service connection for his claimed psychiatric, heart, sleep apnea, neck, upper extremity radiculopathy, head injury residuals, skin disorder, ankle, or knee disabilities.

The Veteran's maxillary frontal sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are rated at a 10 percent disability level, reflecting the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as well as to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis and skin condition.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis disability rating from 10 percent to zero percent effective May 10, 2016 was proper due to sustained improvement in his symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and skin disability, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis prior to August 28, 2019 and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of greater than 50 percent obstruction or complete obstruction on one side.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a compensable rating based on audiometric findings.,For his lumbar spine traumatic arthritis (back condition), the Veteran’s current disability picture does not meet or approximate the criteria for a 20 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain additional information regarding the severity of his back condition.,The Veteran's Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma has been considered, but no compensable rating can be assigned as it did not recur or metastasize since treatment in 2010 and he does not have any residuals from the condition.,Regarding the skin condition, a compensable rating is denied as there is insufficient information to determine if the Veteran's current disability picture warrants such a rating. The Board finds that remand is necessary for further evaluation.,The allergic rhinitis/sinusitis claim was also remanded due to insufficient information regarding its severity and impact on the Veteran’s daily life.,Regarding bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, the Veteran's current disability picture does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain additional information regarding this condition.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and/or rhinitis, sleep apnea as secondary to sinusitis and/or rhinitis, and a compensable initial disability rating for dermatitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment during the period from June 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU for this period.