Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled videoconference hearing. The claims for service connection are being returned to the RO for rescheduling of the hearing.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an allergic condition, specifically allergic rhinitis. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with a VA examination and to clarify her claim based on potential aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected sinusitis and rhinitis.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, migraine headaches, and allergic rhinitis with a history of sinusitis were denied. The Board found no evidence of hypertension in service or within one year after separation from active duty. For migraine headaches, the criteria for a compensable rating were not met between February 1, 2005 and January 5, 2009, but from January 6, 2009, a 30% evaluation was granted. For allergic rhinitis with a history of sinusitis, a 10% evaluation was granted from February 1, 2005 to February 4, 2008, and no higher rating is warranted after that date.

The Board finds no current evidence of a sinus disability or objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability during the pendency of the claim. The Veteran's service records do not reflect treatment for or complaints of chronic sinus problems, and there is no competent medical evidence showing a current diagnosis of a sinus disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including verification of stressors and obtaining VA clinical records. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims due to uncertainty regarding the periods of active and inactive duty training, which is necessary for proper service connection determination.

The Veteran is entitled to payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred on February 18, 2008, at the Florida Hospital-Deland in Deland, Florida, due to an emergency treatment related to her service-connected depression.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to outstanding records and the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current respiratory disorder, diagnosed as allergic rhinitis, was not incurred in or aggravated by his period of active service.

The Veteran submitted new and material evidence to reopen his claims for service connection for skin rash on the left foot and an upper respiratory disorder, including sinusitis and rhinitis. The Board found that the evidence is sufficient to raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.,However, the Board did not find any evidence linking the current conditions to active duty or service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's disability manifested by chronic sinus congestion with headaches is due to a diagnosis of chronic vasomotor rhinitis, which was incurred during active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of rhinitis and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy during the November 2011 hearing. The appeal for service connection of an enlarged prostate is remanded due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for further examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The issue of service connection for allergic rhinitis is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed respiratory disorder, including chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, as well as left maxillary sinus cancer, is not established due to lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn with respect to the issues of service connection for sinusitis, rhinitis, and a chronic disability manifested by hematuria, as well as initial ratings for depressive disorder/panic disorder and migraine headaches. The Board dismisses these appeals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as her conditions did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.