Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic Sinusitis/Allergic Rhinitis, and Residuals of Right Leg Injury (Punji Stick Wound). Bilateral Hearing Loss is not considered a service-connected condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current breathing disability (chronic rhinitis) and stomach disabilities (diverticulosis, GERD) did not have their onset in service or are otherwise related to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder issue is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her medical records.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for respiratory disorders, including asthma, rhinitis, bronchitis, and seasonal allergies. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination to determine if his military service caused or aggravated any preexisting conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and/or rhinitis, as well as secondary service connection for sleep apnea to sinusitis/rhinitis.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral maxillary and ethmoid sinusitis has not been productive of three or more incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, nor more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge. The Veteran's thoracic spine dextroscoliosis with lumbar spine levoscoliosis disability is productive of at least painful motion since the effective date of service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence or credible lay statements supporting a current diagnosis of left ankle disability, gastrointestinal disability (gastroenteritis), hypertension, sleep apnea, and allergic rhinitis. Therefore, the Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis has been rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that he is entitled to a higher evaluation due to more than six non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis per year.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current allergic rhinitis is related to his service, and whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's rhinitis and left leg peripheral neuropathy were not rated higher than the assigned noncompensable or 10 percent ratings prior to February 8, 2016. After this date, his conditions did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of her claim for allergic rhinitis and recurrent sinusitis. The Board finds that a VA examination is warranted to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining post-service medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues before the Board.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for GERD and granted it, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support a finding of in-service onset.,Service connection was also granted for allergic rhinitis. The VA examiner's opinion supported this finding based on the Veteran's reported history of symptoms during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected rhinitis and sinusitis, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, and bilateral hearing loss are all rated at the maximum allowable under VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on Housebound criteria, but found that he was entitled to SMC at the housebound rate from February 25, 2004, to March 31, 2004, and March 21, 2007, to April 30, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including audiometric testing and a clarifying opinion from the March 2016 VA clinician regarding exposure to burn pits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the etiology of his asthma, allergic rhinitis and skin disorder. The claim for an increased rating for adjustment disorder will also be remanded.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 70%, which meets the threshold for a TDIU. However, his service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unemployable.