Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons or bases in denying service connection for an allergy disability, and a new medical opinion is required.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disabilities other than allergies/allergic rhinitis, including chronic bronchitis and sinusitis. The issues of service connection for allergies and/or allergic rhinitis were remanded.

The Veteran's asthma is being remanded for a new examination to obtain the required DLC test results.,Service connection for COPD, allergic rhinitis, and GERD are all being remanded due to insufficient rationale in the previous opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis, finding that his pre-existing condition was aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition and granted service connection for Gulf War illness, manifested by non-allergic, irritant rhinitis. The Veteran's right knee condition is not considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by military service. For the Gulf War illness claim, the evidence supports that the Veteran has a chronic multi-symptom illness with an unidentified etiology, consistent with Gulf War Syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and service connection for a lower back condition was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of current disability or in-service injury related to these conditions.

The Veteran's respiratory or lung conditions, including chronic sinusitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis, are remanded for further development to determine if they are related to his service in Iraq where he was exposed to burn pits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 25, 2019.

The Veteran's right ankle disability and allergic rhinitis are both being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's right and left sciatic nerve pain is not service-connected, as it is caused by his nonservice-connected degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran was employed prior to March 22, 2017, which precludes a TDIU at that time.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, nasal polyps, rhinitis, and sinusitis as there is no evidence of an in-service presentation or a link to service.

The Veteran's BPH was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's Peyronie's disease was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's skin disorder, including actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, rosacea, was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's COPD was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was not shown as etiologically related to exposure to herbicide agents nor was it shown to be chronic in service; he did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be the primary cause of his obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, kidney disease, joint problems/gout, and skin disorder. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, claiming these conditions as a respiratory condition due to exposure to toxic chemicals. The case is being returned for further development including obtaining additional medical records and possibly conducting an examination.

The Veteran is granted TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's sinusitis with rhinitis does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back disability, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, pulmonary disability (including asthma and/or COPD), bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The claims were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prediabetes, allergic rhinitis, helicobacter pylori, hypertension, osteoarthritis, a back disability (secondary to bilateral foot disability), and right and left knee disabilities. The effective dates were not addressed as they are not relevant to the disposition.

Service connection granted for sinusitis with rhinitis, Raynaud's syndrome of the right upper extremity, and Raynaud's syndrome of the left upper extremity. Service connection for a thyroid disability to include as due to environmental hazard exposure during the Gulf War is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for allergic rhinitis and a disability manifested by loss of sense of smell due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records.