Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2022

The Veteran's respiratory disability, diagnosed as rhinitis, is presumed to be related to his service in Southwest Asia and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer, rhinitis, headaches, and asthma do not render him unemployable. His TDIU claim is denied as his combined disability rating of 80% does not meet the schedular requirement for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional VA treatment records related to these claims.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 30% rating for allergic rhinitis, effective June 8, 2015. The increased rating claim for cervical strain with degenerative changes and TDIU claim are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory disabilities and their relation to service, particularly asbestos exposure.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for left hip condition as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine condition. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is denied an initial compensable rating prior to October 12, 2021 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter. The claims for increased ratings of lumbar spine condition are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, to include as secondary to her service-connected allergic sinusitis/rhinitis, diabetes mellitus, and/or steroids taken for treatment of asthma, is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, sinusitis, and rhinitis due to exposure to particulate matter in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee osteoarthritis and a separate rating for instability of the left knee.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is related to military service, specifically his service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his back disability, tinnitus, and allergic rhinitis.

Service connection has been granted for allergic rhinitis.,The claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to November 8, 2016. The Board found that his employment history and education level were sufficient to support his claim of unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on housebound status or aid and attendance was denied as her service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at 10 percent, and he was granted a 30 percent rating for his service-connected rhinitis. The Board found that the Veteran had diagnoses of both sinusitis and rhinitis with overlapping symptoms but separately rated him under Diagnostic Code 6522 for rhinitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by or related to his service-connected rhinitis, and thus grants service connection for OSA as secondary to rhinitis.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal with the grant of a combined 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for rhinitis was dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal.,The effective date prior to June 24, 2015, for the grant of service connection for other specified phobia disorder is denied because new and material evidence did not require readjudication by the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion is inadequate and remands for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's allergic rhinitis pre-existed service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sinusitis was denied. The claims for increased ratings of IBS, allergic rhinitis, left eye erosion syndrome with residual corneal abrasion, and lumbosacral strain with DJD and IVDS were also denied. The Veteran's radiculopathy conditions (right lower extremity, left lower extremity, right upper extremity, left upper extremity) were rated at 20 percent prior to May 29, 2013, but not higher after that date. His cervical spine conditions and thoracic spine surgical scar were also denied.