Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The Board has decided the case is not ready for final decision and has ordered further development to determine if service connection can be granted for a sinus condition as secondary to a service-connected traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for allergic rhinitis is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on the current manifestations of the condition.

The Veteran withdrew her claims for service connection and evaluations related to various conditions, including constipation, left ankle fracture, fatigue and insomnia, cervical spine disability, ganglion cyst of the left knee, allergic rhinitis, lumbosacral strain, lower extremity radiculopathy, and left ankle surgery.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness. The Veteran's tension headaches are secondary to his service-connected psychological disorder.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis was denied, and his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded due to insufficient reasoning in the VA examiner's opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea with bronchial asthma and unspecified depressive disorder, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected back and shoulder disabilities were of sufficient severity to preclude substantially gainful employment from July 2, 2010 to February 27, 2014. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's lumbar strain has been granted a 20 percent evaluation, effective February 21, 2017. The Board also remanded several service connection claims for further review.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the rating for allergic rhinitis before a decision was made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current nasal condition of allergic rhinitis was incurred during active duty, including as a result of an inservice altercation. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals, brain tumor surgery with vertigo of central origin and other associated conditions due to a lack of recent VA examination. The issues are now pending before the AOJ.

Service connection for rhinitis is granted. Service connection for a cervical spine disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a cervical spine disorder, diverticulosis, and hypothyroidism are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for essential tremors and allergic rhinitis, as well as their associated turbinate surgeries. The issues are being reviewed to determine if there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the conditions pre-existed service or were aggravated by service.

The Board has withdrawn the ratings for major depressive disorder, pes planus, anemia, chronic conjunctivitis, and allergic rhinitis. The claims of service connection for bilateral shin splints and left knee condition are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a heart disability is denied, and his claims for increased ratings are all denied. The Board finds no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service exposure to herbicides or other incidents that would warrant presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting additional medical examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and denied all other service connection claims. Service connection was not granted for tinnitus, chronic sinusitis/rhinitis, pes planus, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), hypertension (HTN), or ulcers.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including depression, lumbar spine disability, intervertebral osteochondrosis, C3-C4, C6-C7, bilateral hearing loss, parotid gland neoplasm, and peripheral neuropathy have been granted with effective dates of May 20, 2011.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has also been granted with an effective date of January 30, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's allergies and/or allergic rhinitis were not caused or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of an increase in severity during service. The condition was a pre-existing disorder.

The Board has determined that there was inadequate compliance with the prior remand instructions and thus the case must be returned to the AOJ for further development.