Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further procedural and evidentiary development, including consideration of the VCAA. The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis since May 19, 1993 is now pending.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for allergic rhinitis, as there was no medical evidence linking the current condition to the veteran's military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations, finding no evidence linking his disabilities to service or meeting the criteria for higher ratings. The claims of reopening for hypertension and sinusitis were also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

VA denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for arterial hypertension, migraine headache with post-traumatic exacerbation, PTSD, peptic ulcer disease and hepatitis C, right shoulder pain, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, facial and scalp rash, and sinusitis and rhinitis.,VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder pain, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, facial and scalp rash, and sinusitis and rhinitis. However, VA granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 10 percent evaluation effective August 1, 2000.,VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for peptic ulcer disease and hepatitis C.

The veteran is seeking service connection for allergic diathesis with primarily symptoms of rhinitis (claimed as allergic and/or chronic rhinitis). The VA has remanded the case to obtain additional evidence, including treatment records from VAMC Alexandria, Louisiana. A VA examination will be conducted to determine if there is a link between the veteran's service and her claimed condition.

The Board granted service connection for vasomotor rhinitis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that these conditions were aggravated by in-service injuries. The claims for skull fracture, weakness of the right side of the body due to head injury, and memory loss due to head injury were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability.

The veteran's migraine headaches and sinusitis and allergic rhinitis have been granted initial evaluations, with the rating for migraine headaches increased to 30 percent effective February 27, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 1, 2001 for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis did not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6522, and thus denied his claim.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of allergic rhinitis and bilateral hallux valgus were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's asthma and hay fever were noted at the time of his entry into service, but he was discharged due to hay fever. The Board is remanding the case for further development including a VA medical examination.

The veteran's appeal was denied as there is no evidence of a service connection for the claimed conditions, including learning disabilities and health problems in his children. The claim was dismissed due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, finding that he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hay fever and an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for mechanical low back pain due to lack of evidence supporting a current disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed allergy condition, which he experienced during his last two and a half years of active duty service, is related to the same condition he was treated for in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for allergies and hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is granted.