The Board denied the claims for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, as well as service connection for hypertension and a left wrist disorder.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support ratings higher than those currently assigned due to the severity of the Veteran's symptoms not meeting the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Allergic rhinitis, Chronic sinusitis, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Hypertension, to include as secondary to service-connected obstructive sleep apnea associated with rhinitis, Left wrist disorder, to include as due to exposure to environmental hazards
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2024
- Citation
- 24033213
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matters for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting VA examinations.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
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