Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2022

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for rhinitis, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected deviated septum.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete development and lack of consideration of lay statements regarding continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and new evidence has been received to support the reopening of his claims. However, the Board finds that there is not a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including insomnia, major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and anxiety disorder) was granted due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran's vasomotor rhinitis with recurrent sore throat was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as it did not manifest nasal polyps or greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction one side.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be related to his service-connected sinusitis and rhinitis, thus service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with a previous directive regarding exposure to asbestos and lead during service. The Veteran's MOS was as an operations specialist and anti-submarine air controller, and he reported exposure to lead paint, floor tiling disturbances, and removing and replacing lagging around pipes on bulkheads and in berthing areas.

The Veteran's appeals for CFS, increased ratings for IBS with GERD and rhinitis, and increased ratings for knee disabilities have been dismissed.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of respiratory disabilities and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and consideration of the issues related to his service-connected conditions, including bruxism (claimed as teeth grinding), migraine headaches, PTSD, lumbar strain, reactive airway disease, rheumatoid arthritis of the bilateral knees, tinnitus, restless leg syndrome, left elbow chronic epicondylitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, allergic rhinitis, status-post right 4th metacarpal fracture, bilateral shin splints, erectile dysfunction, scars on the bilateral knees and left elbow, right great toe onychomycosis, and acne.

The Board has remanded the claim for a respiratory condition, including sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and sleep apnea, to include as secondary to service-connected disability. The Veteran's allergies are presumed to have pre-existed his enlistment in the Air Force.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claim for entitlement to service connection for allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for lower back disorder, sinusitis, rhinitis, hepatitis C, and traumatic brain injury as there was no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for rhinitis and sleep apnea, as well as her bilateral lower extremity sciatica. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development including obtaining medical opinions regarding direct service connection as well as secondary service connection.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is granted a 10 percent rating, and her GERD is granted a 30 percent rating. The right hip condition remains at the current 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received since the August 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case, and for clarification on whether sleep apnea was aggravated by service-connected allergic rhinitis with chronic sinusitis.

Service connection granted for a skin disorder other than psoriasis and skin cancer, but denied for left knee, right knee, bilateral ear, and sinus disorders. Service connection is also denied for skin cancer and left hip disorder.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for service-connected rhinitis is denied. The claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot. Special monthly compensation due to the need for aid and attendance is also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea and nasal disability, to include sinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis, have been granted.,Other service connection claims are being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous Board directives.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum medical opinion. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis, low back disability, and hypertension are not currently service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left upper extremity disability, left knee disability, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to insufficient evidence of improvement in his conditions under ordinary conditions of life and work.