Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for allergic rhinitis and determined that his pre-existing condition was aggravated by active military service. The Veteran now meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for back disability, reactive airway disease with bronchitis (secondary to sinusitis and allergic rhinitis), and psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder with depressed mood) have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new examination and opinion regarding service connection for allergic rhinitis as secondary to chronic sinusitis. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot gout and initial compensable evaluations for left elbow olecranon spur and allergic rhinitis, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, celiac sprue, irritable bowel syndrome with polyps, allergic rhinitis, and osteoporosis, did not have onset during a period of active service or were not caused by an injury or disease incurred in service. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation under any applicable rating code.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic nasal disorder in service or subsequent to service, and concluded that the Veteran's current allergic rhinitis is not related to his service. For psychiatric claims, there was insufficient evidence to establish an in-service stressor or link to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for COPD associated with his pulmonary tuberculosis is being remanded due to further development needed. The claims for increased ratings and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for muscle tension headaches, sinusitis, allergies and hay fever, and back disability as secondary to service-connected TMJ disease, right jaw tumor residuals.,An effective date prior to December 29, 1978, is not warranted for the award of service connection for right 5th cranial nerve numbness, right jaw tumor residual.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for inhalant allergies and heart disability, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for allergic rhinitis with chronic sinusitis. The claim for thyroid disability remains denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, residual scar of the right hand, allergic rhinitis, and seborrheic dermatitis were all rated at 10 percent. The left ankle disorder was not service-connected.

The Veteran is requesting to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, arthritis of the right hand, sleep apnea, and a nasal condition. The Board has remanded these cases due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's lower back disorder is rated at 20 percent disabling, and his allergic rhinitis/sinusitis was previously rated as noncompensable but now warrants a compensable rating since March 18, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination to determine the presence and severity of her service-connected allergic rhinitis, including nasal polyps. The issue remains on whether she should receive a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disorder, including rhinitis and sinusitis, is related to service based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and nasal polyps. The initial compensable evaluations for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and bilateral hearing loss have been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic diarrhea, chronic fatigue, night sweats, joint pain of the cervical spine, and chronic rhinitis (claimed as respiratory problems), finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the majority of issues, leaving only one issue related to service connection. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected respiratory and eye conditions.