Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions. The issues include left leg shortening, sinusitis, rhinitis, sarcoidosis, PTSD with depression, IHD status post angioplasty, left ankle talofibular ligament rupture, hyperparathyroidism, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the highest schedular rating, and his symptoms are considered in the current rating criteria. The Board finds no need for extraschedular consideration.,Service connection has been granted for a low back disability due to service.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, treatment records review, and development of his case. The specific issues include pes planus (left foot), cervical spine disability, bilateral wrist, lumbar spine, bilateral ankle, bilateral hip, right ear hearing loss, sinus/rhinitis/nose bleeds, and dysentery and residuals of food poisoning.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sinus disability. The appeal regarding a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is remanded.

The Veteran's initial ratings for vasomotor rhinitis, left wrist condition, and right ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.,The Veteran's initial rating for a right knee disability is being remanded as his representative submitted an independent medical opinion suggesting that it may be secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. Updated VA examination is needed.,The Veteran's claims of varicose veins, back condition, gastrointestinal disability (manifesting in blood in stool), prostate condition, and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and medical opinions regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's recurrent sinus condition and right eye condition are being remanded as his representative submitted an independent medical opinion suggesting that they may be secondary to his service-connected vasomotor rhinitis. Updated VA examination is needed.

The Board denied increased ratings for acne vulgaris, tendonitis of the right wrist, and allergic rhinitis as there was no evidence to support a higher rating based on current symptoms or medical findings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims. The Veteran is now entitled to a full review of his claims.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer, lung disorder, chloracne, and heart arrhythmia with pacemaker due to exposure to herbicides. The RO must determine if the Veteran served in the National Guard at Fort Chaffee from May 27, 1967, to June 10, 1967, and obtain any outstanding VA treatment records for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for nasal disability (chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis) as the Veteran's current symptoms are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical opinions and considering new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a respiratory disorder (other than already service-connected allergic rhinitis), to include asthma, is remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA opinion and the need for a supplemental opinion on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service, as well as if it is aggravated by service-connected rhinitis or GERD.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and remanded the remaining issues due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his acquired psychiatric condition, service connection for a right wrist condition, respiratory disorder, allergies, and gastrointestinal disorder. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the current severity of his psychiatric disability, nature and etiology of his right wrist condition, respiratory and sinus conditions, and whether his ulcerative proctitis is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was not rated at the maximum 100% level due to less severe symptoms.,His sinusitis and rhinitis were remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to insufficient evidence of current disability severity. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to assess his migraines, allergic rhinitis, low back disability, and liver condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The issues of entitlement to service connection for allergic rhinitis, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, and left knee disability are all being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a back condition has been reopened and granted.,An initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.,Service connection for headaches and CTS are both granted.,The issue of service connection for a back condition remains pending.

The Board has granted a compensable evaluation for the right shoulder scar and has remanded cases involving asthma and sinusitis or rhinitis due to lack of medical opinion on their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened and granted for gastroenteritis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and anxiety), hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and OSA. Service connection was also granted for OSA as secondary to service-connected disabilities.