Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for a chronic kidney disorder and chronic sinusitis. The Veteran's claims for service connection of allergic rhinitis and gout are being REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for allergic rhinitis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis has not been manifested by polyps or obstruction of the nasal passages greater than 50 percent on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, which would warrant a compensable rating. The Board finds that a higher rating under DC 6522 is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis with chronic maxillary sinusitis and assigned a 10 percent rating effective from June 8, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence regarding the relationship between his current sleep apnea and his service-connected disabilities, including sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, spontaneous pneumothorax, COPD, and bronchitis.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied as the earliest factually ascertainable date that he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities was June 14, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis and granted service connection for it. The Veteran's perennial allergic rhinitis with seasonal acute exacerbations was found not to warrant a compensable rating prior to January 27, 2009, but from that date forward, he is entitled to at least a 10% disability rating.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Jackson Madison County General Hospital on March 5, 2006 were denied as the services were not rendered in a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to life or health and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis, colloid cyst of the thyroid, dry eyes, and eyelid infections were not incurred or aggravated by active military service. The evidence shows these conditions existed prior to enlistment.

The Board's September 2007 decision denying service connection for asthma and allergic rhinitis was dismissed due to the Court's September 2009 Order vacating that portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic code. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis has been evaluated as noncompensable since March 2005. The VA examinations and private treatment records do not show any polyps, but there is some obstruction of the nasal passages on both sides. As a result, the claim for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for bronchial asthma and hay fever due to incomplete development of the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for additional action, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep disability with fatigue, respiratory disability (rhinitis with recurrent bronchitis and bronchospasm), and muscle and joint pain are all related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection and initial ratings for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and allergic rhinitis. The effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus is August 17, 2005.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated at 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are both rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disorder, hemorrhoids, migraine headaches (claimed as Gulf War Syndrome), and allergic rhinitis was denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability at any time during the course of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, rhinitis, and sinus disorder with headaches. Service connection is denied for deflection of the nasal septum and residuals of nose surgery (septectomy).