Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a left little finger amputation due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran's service connection claims have been granted in full.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether current migraines are related to service, and thus grants service connection on a direct basis.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from July 14, 2016 to December 20, 2016 due to his service-connected psychiatric and heart disabilities. Prior to this period, the criteria for a TDIU were not met as he could still secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than June 21, 2018 for service connection for chronic maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, and sphenoid sinusitis and non-allergic rhinitis and bilateral turbinate hypertrophy, as well as her requests for initial ratings higher than 30 percent for non-allergic rhinitis and bilateral turbinate hypertrophy and higher than 50 percent for chronic maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, and sphenoid sinusitis. The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for septal deviation.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis is rated at 10 percent from April 10, 2014, to March 15, 2022. A higher rating is not granted since March 15, 2022.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of CFS and granted service connection for rhinitis, back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and dermatitis. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sinusitis, rhinitis, and back disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the criteria provided in the Rating Schedule.

Service connection is granted for residuals of a nose injury with resulting deformity, status post deviated septum, to include nasal valve collapse, deviated septum, and hypertrophy of nasal turbinates. The appeals for service connection for chronic rhinitis and scar on bridge of nose are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for allergic rhinitis was reopened due to new evidence showing exposure during Gulf War service and a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea was reopened due to new evidence from his private physician, who provided a positive nexus statement.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for allergic rhinitis prior to April 13, 2023, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides with polyps, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's low back pain and lumbar herniated disc are granted service connection. The respiratory disability (claimed as chronic cough), allergic rhinitis, and headache disability claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tension headaches, migraines, respiratory problems, rhinitis, sinusitis, and a right knee disorder are denied. The Board found that the current disabilities were not present in service or related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, rhinitis, sinusitis, a bilateral foot disability, and a right knee disability based on the positive evidence presented by the Veteran's lay testimony, outpatient treatment records, and private opinions of record.

The Veteran's COPD, lung cancer, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, gastroenteritis, rubella, and vertigo, dizziness, and lightheadedness are all remanded for further evaluation due to the need for medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder other than allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea as there is no current disability established.

The Veteran's rhinitis and deviated septum are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to burn pits during her service in the Persian Gulf War. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's bilateral foot warts and spine disability have been granted service connection. The Veteran is denied an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, as the condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on nasal obstruction or polyps.,The Veteran's unknown rashes due to exposure in Southwest Asia and right and left knee disabilities are pending further examination and analysis.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for hypertension, GERD, and thoracic outlet syndrome due to potential exposure during a TERA. Service connection is granted for allergic rhinitis, cervical degenerative disc disease, and IBS.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and rating determinations. The main reasons are to obtain missing service treatment records and private medical records, as well as to determine whether new evidence supports reopening of certain claims.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to pending appeals in the AMA system that need to be resolved before adjudication can proceed.