Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's allergic rhinitis was aggravated by her period of active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's disabilities render him unable to adequately attend to the needs of daily living without the regular assistance of another person, warranting special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a traveling Member of the Board and providing appropriate notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for vasomotor rhinitis, finding that his complaints of upper respiratory symptoms during service were acute and transitory, and did not result in a chronic condition. The slight nasal septum deviation noted on separation examination was attributed to a pre-existing fracture of the nose prior to service.

The VA determined that the veteran's rhinitis with history of frontal sinusitis does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation than the current 10 percent rating.

The veteran's dizziness and fainting spells are found to be due to an undiagnosed illness as a result of service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War. Hay fever is not shown to have increased in severity during service, but it is not considered due to service either. Insomnia and frequent indigestion were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinus) and residuals of a right ankle sprain, but granted a 10 percent rating for the residuals of a right ankle sprain. The claim for service connection for a left ankle condition was also denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for allergic rhinitis and postoperative residuals of nasal polyps, sinusitis, and service connection for respiratory disability other than sinusitis and allergic rhinitis with postoperative residuals of nasal polyps. The claim for peripheral neuropathy was also denied.

The veteran's service-connected asthma, allergic rhinitis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae and facial acne do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic rhinitis, finding that it was incurred during active service.

The Board found that the veteran's allergic disorder existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disorder, back disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, tinnitus, rhinitis, otitis media, and residuals of tonsillectomy. The arthritis of the knees is separately rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed low back disability, foot fungus, rhinitis, sinusitis, headache disorder (claimed as secondary to service-connected ear disabilities), labyrinthitis (secondary to service-connected ear disabilities), fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness, and hypertension. The veteran's anxiety neurosis and PTSD were granted a 50 percent evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected right hip disability, frontal sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, and left eyebrow scar with paresthesias are currently rated at the minimum levels allowed by law. The Board finds that these evaluations do not adequately reflect the severity of his disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board denied a higher evaluation for allergic rhinitis, finding no evidence of nasal polyps at any time since October 2, 1995.

The Board denied increased ratings for sinusitis and rhinitis, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating codes.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness or combination of illnesses that became manifest during the veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claim of service connection for asthma, bronchitis chest pain, and allergic rhinitis.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no evidence of current periodontal disease, cervical strain with muscular headaches, or sinusitis with rhinitis related to active service. The residuals of the bunionectomy were not considered severe enough to warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's rhinitis and sinusitis warrant a 30 percent evaluation, as she experiences more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.