The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is not rated higher than 10 percent.,The Veteran's eczema is rated at 10 percent, but no higher, for the entire period on appeal.,The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae and athlete’s foot are both rated as noncompensable (0 percent).,The Veteran does not have any service-connected conditions related to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive conditions.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show nasal polyps associated with the Veteran’s allergic rhinitis and there was no 50% obstruction of nasal passage on both sides.,For the period prior to October 25, 2018, the eczema affected more than 5 percent of his body with functional limitation in using his hands due to itchy, painful, and swollen skin. For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran’s eczema did not require systemic therapy or other immunosuppressive drugs for a total duration of 6 weeks or more over a 12-month period.,The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae does not affect at least 5 percent of his entire body and requires intermittent systemic therapy or other immunosuppressive drugs required for a total duration of less than 6 weeks over the past 12 months. The athlete’s foot disability affects more than 5 percent of his total body area.,The Veteran's conditions are not related to any presumptive exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Allergic rhinitis, Eczema, Pseudofolliculitis barbae, Athlete's foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20002547
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for chronic headaches, CFS, dermatosis, bilateral RLS, a lumbar spine disability, and sleep apnea but denied a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis.
- Denied
The appeal for higher ratings and effective dates for various conditions was denied, with the exception of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy which were granted an earlier effective date.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, residuals of a right foot injury, sinusitis, shortness of breath, allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnea as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an increased rating for allergic rhinitis and remanded the claims for cervical spine, hip, thigh, and hip extension disorders for further development.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.