Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2006

The Board denied service connection for deteriorating vision, granted service connection and awarded a 20 percent disability rating for TMJ, and awarded noncompensable initial ratings for headaches and allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for chronic rhinitis, finding that the evidence did not show symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information from the veteran.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected maxillary sinusitis with allergic rhinitis and right nasal obstruction warrants a 10 percent evaluation, as it does not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for refractive error, headaches, and allergic rhinitis (claimed as a sinus condition) are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and rhinitis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current allergic rhinitis disorder is not attributable to service, and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The RO has already assigned the maximum available rating (10%) for tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss is rated at zero percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and right lateral malleolus fracture residuals were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the severity of her service-connected conditions.

The veteran's respiratory disease, characterized as an allergic reaction manifested by sinusitis, was granted a noncompensable evaluation from June 19, 1996, to March 14, 2006. On and after March 15, 2006, the veteran is entitled to a compensable evaluation for his respiratory disease.

The veteran's cervical strain was rated at 10 percent from June 1, 2003, to September 25, 2003. His left knee disability and allergic rhinitis were both rated as non-compensable.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 21, 2000 for a rating evaluation of 30 percent for sinusitis with allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the veteran's appeals for increase in tinnitus, propriety of combined rating for service-connected disabilities, initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and allergic rhinitis beginning August 16, 2002, and sinusitis. The right ear hearing loss prior to August 16, 2002 was rated as noncompensable.

The Board has granted service connection for joint pain of the lumbar spine and joint pain of the left knee. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an appropriate opinion regarding whether the veteran's respiratory disorder clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service.