Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating prior to May 14, 2009, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the ratings for his lumbar spine disability and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic sinusitis is currently rated at 30 percent, effective December 31, 2012. The initial rating for allergic rhinitis remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and psychiatric disorder were denied.,Service connection was also denied for allergic rhinitis with chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been denied as the claims are not supported by sufficient evidence. The Board found that the Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause, which is a legal determination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis has been reopened, but his request for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic rhinitis with sinusitis and gastrointestinal disability (claimed as irritable bowel syndrome) are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis with sinusitis and sleep apnea, finding that these conditions are attributable to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylolysis and strain with dextroscoliosis, left knee DJD with PFS, right knee DJD with PFS, allergic rhinitis, and hemorrhoids have been granted initial evaluations. The lumbar condition received a noncompensable evaluation prior to June 25, 2008, and a 10 percent evaluation from that date forward. The left and right knee conditions each received a 10 percent evaluation effective May 1, 2006. Allergic rhinitis was assigned a noncompensable evaluation, while hemorrhoids were given a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable disability evaluations for his claimed conditions, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis is rated at 30 percent effective June 28, 2010. Before that date, the condition did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and unclear address of the Veteran. The claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and heart disorder will be reconsidered after obtaining all relevant medical records.

The VA determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis existed prior to his service and was not aggravated by it, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is not service-connected.,The Veteran's symptoms of pain in the bilateral arms, legs, back and neck; sinus disorder; skin disorder; and stomach disorder have been attributed to known clinical diagnoses.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder to service and denied her claim for service connection. The TDIU claim was also denied as there were no service-connected disabilities rated at least 40% combined that met the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inaccurate factual history regarding the Veteran's diagnoses of sinusitis.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset during service or within one year of separation from service and is not otherwise related to service.,There is a preponderance of evidence against a nexus between a current gastrointestinal disability, including GERD, and any incident in service. The Veteran was not exposed to asbestos and/or other toxic chemicals during service.

The Veteran's low back strain was increased to a 20 percent rating effective from April 7, 2011. His allergic rhinitis with occasional sinusitis remains noncompensably (zero percent) disabling.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder and an allergic rhinitis (nasal disorder) have been denied. The issues of increased ratings for left knee instability, reconstruction of the left anterior cruciate ligament, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral pes planus remain unresolved.