Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination findings and need for further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis with traumatic deviated nasal septum has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The AOJ will consider this evidence in their review.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis with deviated nasal septum does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Codes 6502 or 6522, as there is no evidence of greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for various conditions and revisions to evaluations. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities were granted service connection and an increased rating. Other conditions, including IBS, bilateral hip disabilities, left knee disabilities, and hypothyroidism, received increased ratings.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. A new VA examination will be scheduled to determine the current severity of his allergic rhinitis, including without medication.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar strain, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea due to a failure to provide a VA examination addressing the Veteran's lay contentions.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and denied the claims for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis, low back disorder, left lower extremity numbness, right lower extremity numbness, left upper extremity numbness, right upper extremity numbness, and tension headaches.

Service connection for rhinitis and sinusitis due to presumed exposure to fine particulate matter in the Southwest Asia theatre during the Persian Gulf War is granted from August 5, 2021. The portion of the period on appeal prior to August 5, 2021, is addressed in the REMAND section.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, left shoulder disability, hypertension, and sleep disability due to duty-to-assist errors. Service connection is granted for allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings for sinusitis, rhinitis, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The Veteran was not granted any compensable ratings for these conditions.,For the period prior to April 21, 2023, the Veteran's sinusitis did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there were no incapacitating episodes or non-incapacitating episodes in the previous year. For the period from April 21, 2023 to the present, the Veteran's sinusitis also did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded his claim for a higher rating for his service-connected vasomotor rhinitis.

The Veteran's hypertension, left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, rhinitis, and sinusitis claims are denied. The AOJ also remanded the service connection for rhinitis and sinusitis due to a duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sinusitis, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current symptoms and service or exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's service treatment records did not show any complaints or diagnoses related to sinusitis.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and other conditions were addressed. The Board found the reduction from 30% to 0% for allergic rhinitis was improper and restored the rating. The claim of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to new evidence.

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected allergic rhinitis as there was no evidence of greater than 50 percent or complete obstruction of either of the nasal passages, or nasal polyps.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for chronic sinusitis is denied as he did not have any incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, nor at least three non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis is denied as he did not have greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides, complete obstruction on either side, permanent hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates, nor nasal polyps.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the awards of a 50 percent evaluation for recurrent sinusitis and a 10 percent evaluation for chronic rhinitis are denied because the liberalizing law that granted service connection went into effect on August 5, 2021.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities is granted.