Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for post-operative residuals of proximal inter phalangeal joint resection arthroplasty of the fourth and fifth toes of the left foot, and allergic rhinitis are both granted. The rating assigned for allergic rhinitis is 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and increased ratings for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, but denied the claim for right ear hearing loss.

The veteran's claim for service connection for prostate disability and chronic sinusitis and/or chronic rhinitis was denied. The Board found that the veteran currently suffers from benign prostatic hypertrophy which had its onset during his period of active military service, warranting a grant of service connection.

The veteran's initial rating for bipolar disorder is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The veteran's initial compensable rating for sinusitis/allergic rhinitis is granted based on moderate symptoms.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, including hypertension, and allergic rhinitis and sinusitis (claimed as headaches) are pending. The claim for new and material evidence for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also pending.,A higher evaluation of 60 percent has been granted for the lumbar myositis and discogenic disease of the lumbar spine effective from January 31, 2000. However, prior to that date, a maximum evaluation of 20 percent was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his acromioclavicular joint separation of the right shoulder, meniscus tear of the left knee, and hypertension as there is no evidence of more than slight instability or subluxation in the left knee, and no objective medical evidence of recurrent instability or subluxation in the right shoulder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that the evidence did not warrant an evaluation greater than 10 percent for his hypertension disability or additional support for a claim of allergic rhinitis.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with the exception of the claim for rhinitis which was not addressed due to lack of medical evidence. The other conditions received a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations of his asthma and rhinitis disabilities, as well as his request to reopen a claim for service connection for neurodermatitis. The decision found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under either the old or new rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was granted. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bipolar disorder was also granted, with a 30 percent evaluation effective from February 1, 1993. Other claims were continued at their prior evaluations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected bronchial asthma and anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under either the old or revised criteria.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, which was previously rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claims for a compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis and headaches.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and an increased rating for allergic rhinitis, as well as his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a fracture of the left lower extremity (including disability of the left ankle, left foot, left hip, and back, and depression). The Board also denied his total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities and his waiver of recovery of indebtedness created by overpayment of VA vocational rehabilitation benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, maxillary sinusitis/rhinitis, and migraine headaches. The TDIU claim was also denied as the veteran is not precluded from substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that there was no evidence of aggravation during service and that current symptoms do not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied as his service-connected conditions do not prevent him from performing the physical and mental acts required for gainful employment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches, a gynecological disorder, a psychiatric disorder, tinnitus with vertigo, rhinitis, sinusitis, a dermatological disorder defined as acne or eczema vulgaris, and fibromyalgia. The RO also denied an increased disability rating for service-connected joint pain and stiffness of the right hand, right wrist, and both knees, as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's claim for service connection for various symptoms, including skin rashes, viral warts, sores and lumps on the head with folliculitis, jaundice of the eyes, gingivitis, muscle contraction headaches and vascular headaches, joint and muscle pain, back pain, atypical noncardiac chest pain, frequent urination, recurrent diarrhea, hair loss, depressive disorder, fatigue, blurred vision, allergic rhinitis with sinusitis, sensitivity to chemical sprays, stress, and memory loss, is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for atrophic rhinitis, synechia with chronic recurrent epistaxis secondary to a nasal injury. The RO will now consider whether this condition was aggravated by active duty.