Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a 30 percent evaluation for allergic rhinitis prior to October 20, 2010 was granted. The issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation on or after October 20, 2010 is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and traumatic deviated septum (claimed as a nose condition), migraine headaches secondary to these conditions, and tinnitus have all been granted. The claim for erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to her active duty service.

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings, including those for low back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, left elbow disability, GERD, allergic rhinitis, and TDIU. The Veteran is also required to provide authorization for VA to obtain private treatment records from a facility in Panama Beach, Florida.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and allergies, as well as increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's claims were not granted due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence supporting the claimed conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee pain, rhinitis, and migraine condition due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding increased evaluations for allergic rhinitis, lumbar spine disability, and left eye disability due to the appellant's withdrawal of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinitis (claimed as a sinus disability) due to exposure to burning excrement in Haiti during military service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the criteria for a TDIU are therefore denied. The initial rating for POTS is also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination reports and the need for new examinations with a different contractor.

The Veteran's migraines have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent since October 20, 2022. The Board found that his very frequent and prolonged attacks, including symptoms like dizziness, nausea, photophobia, sonophobia, and severe pain (rated as nine out of ten), are productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for the claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, a bilateral foot disability (plantar fasciitis), and a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected ureterolithiasis. The Veteran's lay statements regarding symptoms in service and after have not been considered, and additional private treatment records are needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, obstructive sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis/sinusitis (claimed as allergies and allergy/sinusitis), and tinnitus are being remanded due to new evidence received since previous decisions.,The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities.

The appeals for service connection for rhinitis (sinusitis) and asthma have been dismissed. Service connection for headaches has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities because he did not complete and return the necessary TDIU application, and there was insufficient evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions alone.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, allergic rhinitis, diminishing eyesight, kidney stones, lower back pain, and sleep apnea as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis on a presumptive basis due to exposure in Southwest Asia. Service connection for tinea pedis is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder, allergic rhinitis (claimed as allergies), and asthma. Service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied.