Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The Veteran's residuals of right spermatocele are not service-connected as they were not present in service and there is no evidence linking them to service. The sinus disorder and hepatitis B diagnoses are unclear due to the lack of etiology opinions provided by the VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to Agent Orange and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA medical opinions regarding his claimed back disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and review, including reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for rhinitis and service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found that the right knee and left knee disabilities, as well as hypertension, are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergies, Morton's neuroma, and thumb injuries are granted. The Board finds the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis is granted. The effective date of the award of a 30 percent rating for allergic rhinitis is set at September 23, 2008. However, an earlier effective date is not warranted due to the lack of factual ascertainability of polyps prior to this date. The claim for a compensable rating for residuals of nasal injury with scarring remains unresolved.

The Veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of left foot calluses are currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and his allergic rhinitis is rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's urinary incontinence is service-connected as it is caused by her service-connected complex partial seizures. For the period prior to August 21, 2007, she was granted a disability rating of 50 percent for migraine headaches due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks. From August 21, 2007, the Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent disabling. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is not service-connected.

The Board has dismissed the appeal with respect to the claims of entitlement to service connection for a fungal disorder, allergic rhinitis, and hypertension due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran currently has a non-compensable rating for migraine headaches, a 10 percent rating for sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, and no compensable rating for an abdominal scar. Service connection for hypertension was not established.

The Veteran's back disorder, right knee disorder, and allergic rhinitis were not found to meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to clarify the nature of his claim for service connection for a coughing disability and to obtain additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is related to his service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service treatment records and inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is required to provide copies of any missing service treatment records, and a new VA examination will be scheduled for his low back disability, rhinitis, sinusitis, left ankle fracture residuals, post-operative left mastectomy, and tinea barbae.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected asthma, effective from the date of this decision. The criteria for a higher 100 percent evaluation have not been met.

The Veteran's sinusitis has resulted in more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting. The Board finds that a 30 percent rating is warranted for his rhinitis (sinusitis).

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have heat stroke residuals and thus denies his claim for service connection.