Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis/kidney stones and allergic rhinitis were granted increased disability ratings of 10% and 30%, respectively, effective from June 8, 2019, for the kidney stones, and April 12, 2021, to December 15, 2023, for the allergic rhinitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the initial decision, requiring a new examination and review of the Veteran's sinusitis condition.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and the earlier effective date claim for allergic rhinitis. The denial is based on a lack of current diagnosis of sinusitis, and the effective date for the grant of service connection for allergic rhinitis is set at August 5, 2021.

Service connection for allergic rhinitis has been granted.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is not service-connected.

The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of September 10, 2019, for the grant of service connection for a rhinitis sinus condition was withdrawn by her representative prior to the Board making a decision.

The appeal is dismissed because the February 9, 2022 letter from the RO did not constitute a final decision and the Veteran's March 2022 NOD does not place the propriety of the claim in appellate status.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for rhinitis, hypogeusia, and dysphagia were denied. The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 80 percent prior to April 17, 2018, for dysphagia, cranial nerve IX, but the claim for a higher rating after that date is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis due to duty-to-assist errors, including a lack of records from his National Guard service and private treatment records. The AOJ is required to obtain these records and provide an addendum opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in the December 2021 VA examination, which did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication on the service-connected rhinitis. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, and denied service connection for hypertension. The erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back and joint disabilities. Service connection for sinusitis is established based on direct evidence of a current disability during military service. Service connection for hypertension was denied due to insufficient evidence linking in-service elevated blood pressure readings to current hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for service-connected sinusitis was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for service-connected allergic rhinitis was also denied, as his symptoms did not warrant such a rating based on the provided evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) have all been granted. The conditions are related to his military service in the Southwest Asia Theater.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis claimed as sinusitis is remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA opinion and the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic rhinitis is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to fine particulate matter. The claim for service connection for chronic cough is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing, a special home adaptation grant, or an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment. The Board found that none of his conditions qualify under the applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is denied, and his claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not caused by military noise exposure during service.

The claim for an initial increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied.,The claim for an initial increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for hearing loss is denied.,The claim for an initial increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The claim for an initial compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.,The claim for service connection for TBI is denied.,The claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, to include flat foot pain, is denied.,The claim for service connection for a right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain is granted.,The claim for service connection for xerosis cutis is granted.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for mold illness (biotoxin illness) and lung stress (shortness of breath).,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is rated at 10 percent, but not in excess of that.,The claim for Vitamin D3 and B deficiency was denied as there were no current symptoms or evidence of a disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations to clarify the nature of his conditions, including allergic rhinitis, autonomic dysfunction, CFS, and fibromyalgia.