Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the withdrawal of his appeals for increased ratings for left ankle disorder and right knee disorder. The remaining issues of increased ratings for sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and asthma are being reviewed.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle and denied claims for initial compensable evaluations for allergic rhinitis and maxillary sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis, as well as his claim for an effective date prior to February 12, 1970 for the grant of service connection for allergic rhinitis, were denied. The Board found that no earlier effective date was warranted due to the Veteran's separation from active duty on February 11, 1970.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hyperlipidemia has been dismissed. The chronic allergic rhinitis claim has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection for hypertension is being considered as secondary to diabetes mellitus, but further development is needed regarding the underlying service connection claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and the need for additional VA outpatient records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted for these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic rhinitis is not manifested by greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, and thus does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6522.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he now has a compensable rating for his right wrist strain. His other claims are denied.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic respiratory disorder during service and concluded that the Veteran's current asthma and allergic rhinitis are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is found to have had its clinical onset during service, and thus granted service connection. The Veteran does not have a disability manifested by headaches due to disease or injury that was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

Service connection for a chronic lung disability, claimed as bronchitis and COPD, is not established.,Service connection for an upper respiratory infection is not established.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic rhinitis with sinusitis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating as there are no incapacitating episodes of sinusitis requiring antibiotic treatment lasting four to six weeks or more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by purulent discharge or crusting.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's rhinitis with sinusitis is not related to his military service and denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete records and other issues.

The Veteran's service connection claims for plantar fasciitis with spurs, rhinitis (claimed as sneezing, dry mouth and shortness of breath), and bronchitis are granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development and adjudication of his claims, including service connection for emphysema and separate rating for bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has found that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis and sinusitis did not first manifest during service or were caused by service. The claim for anxiety disorder was remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's rhinitis is found to have manifested in service and has been chronic since discharge, granting service connection for the condition. Service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected sinusitis and rhinitis with headaches is being remanded for additional development, including a new compensation and pension examination to determine the nature and extent of any current manifestations of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's sinusitis with allergic rhinitis does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating as it has not caused incapacitating episodes, more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting, required surgery, or resulted in nasal polyps.