Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2022

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis, characterized by nasal polyps and occasional nasal blockage, is granted a 30 percent disability evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims.,No new evidence or changes in disability status were presented, and all issues on appeal are now closed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were partially granted, with some issues being reopened and others not. The appeal is dismissed as to the claim of retinopathy due to its full grant. Claims for skin disability, arthritis, high blood pressure, foot injury residuals, and respiratory disorder are all partially granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for unspecified depressive disorder is dismissed.,The previously denied claim for service connection for non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis has been reopened and granted on secondary basis to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.,Service connection for hypertension is granted as secondary to obesity, which was caused by his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.,Service connection for cerebral infarction is granted as secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.,Service connection for migraine headaches is granted as secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.,Service connection for sleep impairment is denied.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension or diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for gastroenteritis is denied.,Service connection for chronic kidney disease is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for rhinitis, sinusitis, and bronchitis is granted as related to service.,Service connection for fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the evidence does not support a finding that they began during or are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and additional evidence needs to be considered.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, non-allergic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety) is remanded due to the Veteran's testimony at his hearing. The claim for GERD is also remanded as another VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable evaluation for seasonal allergic rhinitis with headaches has been withdrawn and is dismissed.,New and material evidence having been received, the application to reopen claims of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and left hip disability have been granted.

The appeals for chronic fatigue syndrome and coronary artery disease (claimed as heart condition) have been withdrawn, and the appeals are dismissed.,New evidence has been received to reopen claims of service connection for impotence, bilateral knee disabilities, and bilateral calf disabilities. The claims are reopened.,Service connection is granted for a respiratory disability other than sinusitis, rhinitis and asthma, manifesting in a chronic cough.,Service connection is granted for sleep apnea as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).,Service connection is granted for headaches as secondary to sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding no evidence of current disability related to service. Service connection was granted for allergic rhinitis.,The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened due to new and material evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's rhinitis does not warrant a compensable evaluation, and has remanded the issue of service connection for his low back condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis of the left knee and his claim for service connection for pruritis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin rash of the scrotum has been reopened, but not granted. The evidence received since the November 2006 rating decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to establish the claim (a diagnosis of a skin rash and reports of treatment for the same in service and since that time).,The Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained during his active service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, psychiatric disorder (alcohol use disorder/unspecified depressive disorder), right shoulder disability, left elbow disability, right wrist disability, left ankle disability, allergies/rhinitis, persistent diarrhea, and migraine headaches are all remanded for further development as specified in the decision.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for further action regarding his claim of entitlement to a TDIU. The Board finds that the evidence does not show he meets the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU, including on the basis of disabilities affecting a single body system (orthopedic), during the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he withdrew his claims. The Board has also remanded several issues including low back, right knee, left knee, cervical spine, OSA, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and subglottic stenosis of the larynx were evaluated, but neither condition met the criteria for a compensable rating. The temporary total disability rating based on convalescence following surgery was granted.,The Veteran did not have additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or higher during the period in which he received a temporary total disability rating, thus denying entitlement to SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (s).

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis was denied. The Board found that the Veteran is already compensated for his symptoms under the existing 50 percent rating for sinusitis, which includes nasal congestion/obstruction as a symptom. Therefore, a separate 10 percent rating under DC 6522 would be pyramiding and not warranted.

The Veteran's allergic/vasomotor rhinitis is rated at 10 percent from August 6, 2010 to November 23, 2021. The Board has remanded the case for clarification on whether sinusitis is part of the service-connected allergic rhinitis or a separate diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for tonsillitis, finding the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of tonsillitis or its residuals.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma, sinusitis and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of polyps or other qualifying criteria. The Veteran's low back disorder was granted service connection as it is at least as likely as not related to her active duty service.