Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate development of her exposure history and lack of adequate medical opinions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability was withdrawn. Service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis pursuant to the PACT Act is granted. The claims for lumbar spine, cervical spine, heart, and GERD disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for rhinitis and sinusitis were denied as they did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran withdrew their claims for service connection for chronic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis, thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, as secondary to tinnitus, is granted. The claims for service connection for hearing loss disability and a disability manifested by shortness of breath other than chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are denied. The claims for service connection for an intestinal disability (diverticulitis), fatigue, hypertension, neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, upper and lower back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right hip disability, left hip disability, right foot pain, left foot pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied.

The Veteran's service connection for allergic rhinitis was granted, and the Board found that her current diagnosis is presumptively related to her in-service exposure to fine particulate matter. The stroke disorder claim remains pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis, finding that January 29, 2009 was the earliest date of entitlement.

The Board denied the appellant's request for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in an August 2024 rating decision, as the decision was not a result of a valid appeal and did not address all issues raised.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is not service-connected as there was no in-service diagnosis or symptoms, and the VA examiner found it less likely caused by service.,Service connection for hypertension is denied because the condition did not begin during service or shortly after, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's hypertension is also not a qualifying disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.,The Veteran's vertigo was not service-connected as it did not start in service or shortly thereafter, and there was no evidence of continuity of symptoms. It is also not a qualifying disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted based on presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during the Gulf War era.

The Veteran's request to readjudicate the claim for service connection of a right hand condition has been granted.,Service connection is granted for allergic rhinitis, with the presumption that it was aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for a perforated septum as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further development, including verification of in-service stressors and toxic exposure assessments. The Board also requests a VA examination to address the etiology of his diagnosed mental health conditions and vertigo.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6522.

The Board has found that the Veteran's chronic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis are presumptively service connected due to exposure to fine particulate matter. However, direct service connection for these conditions is still available and requires additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's headaches, chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis (presumptive due to burn pit exposure), and bilateral knee disability are all granted. The effective dates for the grants vary based on when the conditions were presumed or diagnosed.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board denies his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 30 percent and is denied an increased rating.,The Veteran's back condition was rated at 20 percent and is denied an increased rating.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis has a noncompensable (0%) rating and is denied an increased rating.,The Veteran's MDD is granted a disability rating of 70% but no higher.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic rhinitis but denied service connection for sinusitis. The Veteran's claim for chronic rhinitis is based on direct evidence, while the denial of sinusitis is due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of competent medical evidence and because the VA examiner who provided the April 2024 VA examinations and opinions was challenged as not being qualified. The Veteran is also not yet afforded VA examinations for his claimed cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, rhinitis, IBS, non-infectious gastroenteritis, and UTI due to insufficient competent medical evidence on file. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome.