Allergic rhinitis Board decisions

The veteran's memory loss and attention problems, skin disorders, swollen lymph nodes, hair loss, fatigue, and joint pain are all found to be related to an undiagnosed illness during his Gulf War service.

The veteran's chronic vasomotor rhinitis with sinusitis and nasal polyposis is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from September 1993. The left ankle strain with arthritic changes was increased to 20 percent from June 18, 1998.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches, finding that the veteran's headaches occur one to three times weekly and are characterized by brief neurologic deficits. The claim for service connection for sinus/rhinitis disorder and residual disability due to nasal surgery is denied as not well-grounded, and the claim for service connection for a back disability is also denied as not well-grounded.

The veteran's service-connected defective hearing and vasomotor rhinitis are currently evaluated at the noncompensable level. The Board finds no basis for an increased evaluation as his current manifestations do not warrant a higher rating under either the old or new schedular criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a bilateral hip condition, a bilateral knee condition, and a hand disability. The tinea pedis claim was granted with an initial rating of 10 percent.

The VA has granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for the service-connected allergic bronchial asthma and increased the rating of the service-connected allergic rhinitis, allergic sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disabilities to 30 percent. The decision does not address the issue of hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for allergic rhinitis, finding that the veteran's condition did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of an allergic disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to active military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected allergic rhinitis, hemorrhoids, and pulmonary coccidioidomycosis. The conditions were evaluated under a direct service connection theory without any presumption or secondary basis.

The Board has granted an initial compensable evaluation of 10% for the veteran's service-connected scar, right eyelid. The claim for rhinitis/sinusitis is not supported by evidence meeting the criteria for a compensable evaluation. An initial compensable evaluation of 10% is also granted for degenerative spurring, cervical spine.

The VA determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment based on his educational attainment and occupational experience.

The veteran's dyshidrotic eczema of the hands is currently rated at 30 percent, which meets his claim for an increased rating.,The veteran's chronic low back strain is currently rated at 10 percent. The RO granted a higher rating to 30 percent effective November 14, 1995.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for deviated nasal septum, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, asthma, and headaches as not well grounded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected cervical and lumbosacral spine conditions, left ankle fracture residuals, and allergic rhinitis.

The veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and septoplasty residuals are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that a separate 10 percent rating is warranted for the veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and sinusitis.

The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings for allergic/vasomotor rhinitis with headaches, pseudofolliculitis barbae, right wrist disability, and lumbosacral strain (back).

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and residuals of an ear infection are not well-grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found no competent evidence linking the veteran's current upper respiratory disorder, including sinusitis and rhinitis, to service. The claim is not well-grounded.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability and high cholesterol, but remanded the issue of the veteran's entitlement to an increased rating for chronic rhinitis. The RO conducted a VA medical examination in July 1999 and later reduced the rating for chronic rhinitis from 10 percent to 0 percent without considering the requirements set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.344. The Board restored the 10 percent rating for chronic rhinitis.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis and assigned a 10 percent disability rating.