The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease is no longer being appealed for an increased rating.,A higher initial rating of 40 percent has been granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy.,Service connection for residuals of a nose injury and sinusitis (secondary to allergic rhinitis) have been reopened, but not yet established as service-connected.,Service connection for residuals of a right pinkie finger injury has been reopened, but not yet established as service-connected. Service connection for sinusitis (secondary to allergic rhinitis) has also been reopened and is presumed based on the secondary relationship to service-connected allergic rhinitis.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis has been granted, with sinusitis being granted as secondary to allergic rhinitis.,The Veteran's right pinkie finger injury residuals are not yet established as service-connected.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease prior to the issuance of a Statement of the Case.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 40 percent based on moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.,New and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen claims for residuals of a nose injury and residuals of a right pinkie finger injury, but service connection remains pending as they are not yet established.,Service connection for residuals of a right pinkie finger injury and sinusitis (secondary to allergic rhinitis) have been reopened based on new evidence. Service connection for sinusitis is presumed secondary to the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis.,Allergic rhinitis has been granted as service-connected, with sinusitis being granted as secondary to allergic rhinitis.,Service connection for residuals of a right pinkie finger injury remains pending and not yet established.
- Claimed conditions
- Recurrent lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, Right lower extremity radiculopathy, Sinusitis (including as secondary to allergic rhinitis), Allergic rhinitis, Bilateral foot disability (pes planus, plantar fasciitis, hallux rigidus, metatarsalgia)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19168874
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19168874.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remands the case for further development. The Veteran contends his allergic rhinitis began during service, but VA medical opinions have found no link between his current condition and service.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to February 5, 2024, for a 10 percent evaluation of allergic rhinitis was denied. The Veteran also appealed for a higher rating for his allergic rhinitis and this was denied as well.,The Veteran's PTSD with TBI claim is remanded due to inadequate medical examinations.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for GERD and allergic rhinitis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD, as there is no documented history of recurrent esophageal stricture causing dysphagia requiring daily medications or dilatation more than once per year. For allergic rhinitis, the Veteran's symptoms were not severe enough to warrant a compensable rating due to lack of polyps and obstruction.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of allergic rhinitis. Service connection is granted for a skin disorder (Pseudofolliculitis barbae) and denied for a chronic cervical spine disorder.
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