Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, requiring VA examinations to determine if his claimed disabilities had their onset during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea and allergic rhinitis for further development due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her allergic rhinitis with occasional sinusitis is granted, and she is now receiving a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis and depressive disorder with anxious distress were denied. The rating for allergic rhinitis was granted, but the claim remains on appeal as it is reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to environmental exposures in Southwest Asia, including for a respiratory disability and obstructive sleep apnea. The remand is required because of conflicting opinions from VA examiners regarding the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory condition.

The Veteran's skin disorder, CAD, sinus disorder, and vertigo are all remanded for further development due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep apnea, left hip disability, right knee disability, and allergic rhinitis for further development. The Veteran's private treatment records from the Tri-Cities Sleep Center confirm a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. A VA medical opinion is needed regarding the etiology of these disabilities. For the right knee and left hip disabilities, new VA examinations are required as well.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Sjogren’s syndrome has been granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, asthma, bilateral hearing loss, and low back disability have been denied. The claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis and tinnitus remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include an adjustment disorder with depressive features were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection was not granted because the evidence did not show a current disability or establish a link between any diagnosed condition and military service.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to dental bridge, respiratory conditions, generalized joint pain, low back pain, hypertension, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction. The issues are all related to service connection due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, impaired fasting glucose disorder, lumbar spine strain, right shoulder DJD, prostate disability, and allergic rhinitis have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service. The claim for chronic strep throat was denied as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a hiatal hernia and remanded the claims for gastrointestinal disability (including gastroenteritis, GERD) and breathing problems (allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis).

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including PTSD, back disorder, shoulder and knee disorders, GERD, skin condition, neck disorder, and allergic rhinitis were denied as they are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been shown to warrant higher ratings, and the claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation prior to January 29, 2014 and on and after November 7, 2019. From January 29, 2014 to November 6, 2019, the Veteran's allergic rhinitis was found to meet the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for respiratory, sinus, diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, back, left knee, and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to insufficient evidence or lack of clear rationale in the previous VA examination. The claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are also being remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hip osteoarthritis and remanded the issue of service connection for a nasal disorder, to include rhinitis and sinusitis. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board dismissed all claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, scars, lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), degenerative joint disease (DJD) and spinal stenosis status-post lumbar discectomy, rhinitis and sinusitis, right knee disorder, left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, cervical disorder, right foot/toes disorder, left foot/toes disorder, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, right hand/fingers disorder, left hand/fingers disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a sinus disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service upper respiratory infections and there is no positive medical nexus opinion.