Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to potential eligibility for SMC under certain criteria. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being evaluated in detail.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected rhinitis and sinusitis, but more evidence is needed for a definitive determination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a non-organic sleep disorder is dismissed.,Issues of service connection for allergic rhinitis, OSA, TBI, headaches, Meniere's disease, bilateral plantar fasciitis (to include as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability), and erectile dysfunction (to include as secondary to service-connected hypertension) are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while limiting his employment opportunities, do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they are less than total in severity and he has other employable skills.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right hand disability and allergic rhinitis due to lack of compliance with previous requests. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating increases have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, to include PTSD, are related to her military service and the claim for service connection is granted. The claims for low back disability, bilateral foot disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and allergic rhinitis remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for subglottic stenosis of the larynx and allergic rhinitis are remanded due to deficiencies in the development process.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical examinations and because service connection is available on a presumptive basis based on exposure in Southwest Asia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it did not have its onset during active service and is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected post nasoseptal deviation with allergic rhinitis. The claim for an increased disability rating for post nasoseptal deviation with allergic rhinitis was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and consideration of his increased severity claims. The issues include ratings for chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, sleep apnea, lumbar strain and discogenic disease, lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee meniscectomy residuals with degenerative joint disease (DJD), left knee instability, and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeals.,The Board has also remanded several issues, including an evaluation for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, a compensable evaluation for left testicular varicocele with right testicular pain and tenderness, an evaluation for restless leg syndrome, and service connection for a traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's upper respiratory disability, including sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, is considered service-connected.,Obstructive sleep apnea is found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and upper respiratory disabilities.,Hypertension is also found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's dental trauma claim is denied as new and material evidence was not received. Hypertension, bilateral wrist disorder, right thumb contusion, allergic rhinitis, and headaches are all remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea are granted. The claim for a respiratory disorder other than allergic rhinitis and sinusitis is remanded.

The Board has not made a fully-informed decision on the issues of service connection for restless leg syndrome, sinusitis, and rhinitis due to lack of opinions regarding aggravation or preexistence. These issues are being remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused his death. The appellant contends that the cause of death was related to his service-connected asthma.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis, including whether epistaxis is related and its impact on nasal passage obstruction. A separate rating for epistaxis will also be considered if it causes more than 50% obstruction or complete obstruction.

The Veteran's low back strain is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for sleep apnea is granted on the basis that it was initially manifested during active service and aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. Headaches are also granted on this basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases are being remanded due to procedural issues, need for additional medical examination, and potential secondary service connection.