Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, DDD of the lumbar spine, IVDS, and various knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since July 9, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claim for an initial compensable rating for status-post septoplasty/nasal polyp removal due to incomplete compliance with previous directives and need for additional medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected exercise-induced asthma, allergic rhinitis, lumbosacral strain, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are all rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that updated examinations are needed to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's current headache disability is granted as service-connected. The issue of service connection for sinusitis, to include allergic rhinitis and deviated septum, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and diabetes mellitus based on the presumption of exposure to Gulf War conditions. Service connection was denied for fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), esophageal stricture, a chronic skin disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and nephrolithiasis.

The Veteran's service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by wheezing and allergic rhinitis is granted. However, the claim for a higher rating for tinnitus remains denied.

The Board has restored service connection for sleep apnea and rhinitis, finding that the original decisions were not clearly erroneous.

The Veteran's service connection claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, sleep apnea secondary to allergic rhinitis, and bilateral pes planus have been granted. The claim for glaucoma is remanded due to lack of definitive evidence.,Service connection has been established for bilateral plantar fasciitis as it is considered secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's right trigeminal neuropathy, claimed as numbness in the face, is granted as secondary to his service-connected temporomandibular joint dysfunction. The issues of service connection for headaches and allergic rhinitis are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, cardiovascular disability (other than hypertension), low back disability, bilateral hip disability, OSA, COPD, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's sinusitis and allergic rhinitis have been granted initial ratings of 50 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for back disability was denied in a July 2002 decision, and this decision is final. The January 2015 rating decision again denied the claim on the merits, finding no link between the current back disability and service.,An effective date earlier than April 26, 2017 for the award of service connection for chronic sinusitis and allergic and chronic vasomotor rhinitis is not warranted. The earliest possible effective date is April 26, 2017.

The Veteran's right hip disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating.,For sinusitis, prior to May 4, 2022, the Veteran was not entitled to a compensable rating. From May 4, 2022, he did not meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating.,Allergic rhinitis is rated at 10 percent and no higher ratings are warranted.

Service connection is granted for sinusitis, rhinitis, microcytic normochromic anemia, and obstructive sleep apnea.,The Veteran's tuberculosis claim remains pending as it has not been fully adjudicated.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for a nasal injury and allergic rhinitis, as secondary to a nasal injury due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right shoulder strain, left and right elbow strain, and allergic rhinitis have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sinus disability pre-existed service and if it is related to exposure to fine particulate matter during service. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 19, 2019, as he was found to be employed full-time and not unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dizziness secondary to PTSD is denied. His claim for allergic rhinitis due to exposure in Southwest Asia is granted. The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD from December 18, 2014, and TDIU are both granted.