Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, right knee condition, allergic rhinitis, and right shoulder condition have been granted. The remaining issues of increased ratings for migraine headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus, and service connection for a right knee condition are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from January 6, 2014 through March 14, 2020. Effective January 6, 2014, the Veteran was granted TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected, with an effective date of March 21, 2017.,An earlier effective date of March 21, 2017 for the 40 percent rating assigned for lumbosacral strain and discogenic disease is granted.,Service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (claimed as diverticulosis) is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a prostate disability (claimed as prostate cancer) is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, heart condition, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are all remanded due to lack of evidence regarding their relationships with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for osteopenia is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding its relationship with service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, DMII, xerostomia, aerophagia, and rhinitis have been granted.,Service connection has been established for xerostomia as secondary to the Veteran’s service-connected hypertensive heart disease.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding service connection for allergic rhinitis, cervical strain, and chronic fatigue syndrome.,For each issue, a new medical opinion is needed to determine if there is at least a 50% probability that the condition is related to service or caused by military service.

The Veteran's service-connected breathing problems (sinusitis and rhinitis) are denied as they are not related to his active service. His right ankle sprain is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record. The Veteran's lumbar strain has also been rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from maintaining gainful employment effective from March 30, 2012. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the entire appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, myomectomy cystic fibroids (MCF), plantar fasciitis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was not aggravated by her military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted an initial 10 percent rating.,A compensable rating for allergic rhinitis prior to January 15, 2013 and a greater than 10 percent rating thereafter is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for rhinitis and migraine headaches, both claimed as secondary to her service-connected asthma disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were proximately due to or caused by her service-connected asthma.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during active service.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for an allergy disability, including allergic rhinitis, due to the need for further development and clarification regarding the nature and cause of any such disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are related to his service at Camp Pendleton in February 2002, where he experienced cold conditions. The Board found an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding these disabilities and granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis, finding that there is no competent evidence linking the current disability to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis was denied due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.,Service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders were denied as the evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's bilateral big toe disability.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis has not resulted in polyps or greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passages on both sides, and for the period from September 16, 2014 to the present, it has not resulted in polyps. Therefore, a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis and sleep apnea, finding no evidence of a worsening during ACDUTRA or causation.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for sinus bradycardia and remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Board denied service connection for allergic rhinitis and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that these conditions are not related to Agent Orange exposure or service.