Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current chronic maxillary sinusitis and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's combined disability rating for his service-connected conditions is currently at 40 percent, effective January 1, 2005. The Board finds no error in the calculation and denies the claim for a higher combined rating.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 12, 2004, for the grant of service connection for her service-connected disabilities was denied as she did not file a formal or informal claim prior to that date.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and recurrent acute sinusitis have been rated at 10 percent since October 5, 2009. The rating is based on the current manifestations of his conditions rather than service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and sinusitis are not manifested by polyps, and the disability does not warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed respiratory disorders (sinusitis, chronic allergic rhinitis, and chronic bronchitis) are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis improved and no longer met the criteria for a higher rating, thus reducing his disability rating from 30 to 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (right ear hearing loss, sinusitis, rhinitis) are rated as zero percent in combination and do not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for ulnar neuropathy of the left elbow and chronic allergic rhinitis, finding that these conditions began during active service.

The Veteran's chronic rhinitis, a respiratory disability, had its onset in service and is related to his active duty. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation in any of the periods specified.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional evidence. The case will be reconsidered after obtaining a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), a left ankle disability, hearing loss, Meniere's syndrome, and a spine disability. The appeals are based on new evidence submitted after previous denials.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, to include as secondary to sinusitis with allergic rhinitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis with allergic rhinitis warrants a rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of his claim for increase in October 2006.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic allergic rhinitis (now claimed as sinusitis and previously claimed as breathing/nasal condition) is being remanded due to the need for clarification on whether his pre-existing condition worsened during active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and rhinitis due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of medical opinion linking these conditions to service. The Veteran is requested to provide names and addresses of all relevant medical providers and VA records are sought.

The Board found that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there is no evidence of any such condition during his period of service and the most probative evidence fails to link it to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations and the obtaining of updated medical records to determine appropriate disability ratings for her GERD and allergic rhinitis.