Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain the Veteran's private medical records, including those from his last month of life. The case will be remanded for a new opinion regarding whether any service-connected disability contributed to or caused the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis with deviated septum has been rated at 10 percent since the appeal period began, and a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's sinusitis allergic rhinitis is rated at 30% since the entire appeal period. The Veteran's benign prostatic hyperplasia was granted a 20% rating from January 16, 2008 to June 18, 2008 and a 40% rating since then.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, posttraumatic stress disorder, and others, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has determined that he is entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disorders, including sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and deviated septum, are not related to his service. The preponderance of evidence indicates no chronic respiratory disorder during service and no nexus between current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for clarification of dates of service and additional development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of the appellant's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and a respiratory disability, to include bronchitis and atopic rhinitis, was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation before February 12, 2010 and has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent since that date.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's allergic rhinitis is related to service. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran had chronic symptoms of these conditions during active duty, which are now shown to be related to his military service. For asthma, a VA examination is needed to determine if it was present in service or due to his other conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, Celiac disease, allergic rhinitis, immune deficiency, peripheral neuropathy, muscle disability, and skin disability. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and sinusitis have been rated at 10 percent since July 26, 2006. The most recent VA examination did not show greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.

The Board has determined that the appeal is premature and remands for further action, including adjudication of the appellant's request to be substituted as the claimant.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis and bilateral pes planus, as well as his claim for a TDIU based on these conditions, were denied by the RO. The Board found that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of the disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for CVID (hypogammaglobulinemia) and bronchiectasis with vasomotor rhinitis and maxillary sinusitis prior to December 29, 2008 were denied.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 10 percent rating for peptic ulcer disease, and denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, nasal/sinus disorder, and hiatal hernia with reflux esophagitis. The claim for an increased rating for peptic ulcer disease is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for chronic allergic rhinitis with residuals of a deviated septum has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal at the July 2013 Board hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition or its manifestations during service, and the current conditions are not linked to service.,The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 0 percent, and the evidence does not show that her condition warrants a higher rating.