Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and rhinosinusitis. Service connection was denied for left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in September 2022 were inadequate and did not comply with the remand directives. Therefore, the claims for service connection are being remanded again to obtain new medical opinions.

The Veteran's hypertension, OSA, respiratory disabilities including vasomotor rhinitis, pansinusitis, and bronchitis are found to be related to service. The heart arrythmia is not considered a disease or disability for VA purposes.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have sinusitis, but he currently has allergic rhinitis. The claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to consider his exposure in Gulf War service.

The Veteran is granted effective dates of January 28, 2004 for the grant of service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine disability, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pneumonia has been dismissed as the claim was recharacterized and granted in a previous rating decision.,Service connection for heart arrhythmia is denied. The Board found that there is no persuasive weight of evidence to support the Veteran's contention that his current condition is related to military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a respiratory disorder, including COPD, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of COPD.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis and nephrolithiasis were also denied due to lack of evidence supporting the required disability picture.

The Board has granted a nonstaged initial rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's rhinitis, effective from the date of service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including obtaining private treatment records from Lake City Community Hospital Clinics related to sinusitis.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral neuropathy of the legs, and TDIU are being remanded as there is insufficient information regarding his military service in Vietnam.,The Veteran's appeals for chronic sinusitis, cervical spine disability, bilateral arm radiculopathy, and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's appeal for TDIU prior to January 15, 2020 is being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with other claims that require further development.,,,

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and other issues are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 10 percent from January 25, 2013 to December 23, 2019. A rating in excess of 10 percent for the entire appeal period is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's nasal disabilities, including deviated nasal septum, chronic sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis, are related to his service. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred or had their onset during his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, specifically missing sinus x-rays from Shands Hospital in 2015. The Veteran's service connection for rhinitis and sinusitis is being reviewed.

The Board has found insufficient medical evidence of record to determine the severity of the Veteran's rhinitis and sinusitis throughout the entire appeal period. The issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for rhinitis, a compensable disability rating prior to February 28, 2021, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter, for sinusitis, and entitlement to TDIU are REMANDED.

The Veteran's eye disorder, including astigmatism and/or eye blurriness, is granted as new and material evidence has been received.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis is granted due to exposure during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not by themselves cause him to require aid and assistance in accomplishing the activities of daily living and render him unable to protect himself from the hazards and dangers of his daily environment. Therefore, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's allergies, including allergic rhinitis, are related to his active duty service and granted. The left knee and back disabilities remain on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions prevent him from dressing, undressing, bathing, grooming himself without assistance and requires care to protect him from daily hazards. The Board finds that SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another is warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sinusitis/rhinitis and headaches due to insufficient opinions in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran's symptoms are believed to be related to her service, but further examination is needed to clarify the nature of her conditions.