Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2019

The Board denied revisions to the December 1974 rating decisions for service connection and non-compensable ratings due to lack of CUE, as well as denial of service connection for various conditions.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is reopened and granted.,Service connection for a skin condition, including folliculitis, is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for allergic rhinitis is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for headaches, rhinitis/sinusitis, low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, and chest pain. Service connection has also been denied for hyperlipidemia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to a duty to assist error. A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any knee, shoulder, wrist, hand, foot, sinusitis, and rhinitis conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbosacral strain, left hip strain, allergic rhinitis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), chronic bronchitis, and pneumonia due to inadequate rationale in the VA examinations used by the July 2017 decision.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of mood disorder. The right ankle disability was restored to a 20 percent rating, effective July 14, 2015. Service connection for multiple allergies with allergic rhinitis is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for rhinitis, finding that the condition is not related to any disease, injury or incident during service and is not caused by or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis, left patellofemoral syndrome, left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), allergic rhinitis, left palm ganglion cyst excision, herpes simplex, acne vulgaris, and uterine fibroids, have prevented the Veteran from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the cases for issuance of a statement of the case regarding service connection for lower back and cervical spine disabilities. The Veteran must file a timely substantive appeal to proceed with these issues.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, a higher evaluation for allergic rhinitis, and a revision of the December 2007 rating decision denying service connection for a cervical strain on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sinus/allergic rhinitis, headache condition, hypertension, skin cancer of the bilateral arms, high cholesterol, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's rhinitis, asthma, skin disability (including seborrheic dermatitis, actinic keratosis, and xerosis), and right foot fungus are being remanded for further development due to inadequate medical opinions.,The Board is seeking additional information on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, while her back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are not. The claims for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, migraines (secondary), and gastroesophageal or gastrointestinal disorders are remanded.,Service connection for a back disability is denied due to lack of credible evidence linking the condition to service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and secondary service connection for migraines and gastroesophageal or gastrointestinal disorders are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis, asthma and associated COPD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression), and obstructive sleep apnea. The remaining issues of service connection for sensorineural bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.