Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, as well as hypertension. The Veteran's service records show in-service allergies which may be related to his current conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current diagnosis began during service or is related to an in-service injury.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder and TBI is also denied, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete review of the evidence, specifically missing a service treatment record that diagnosed rhinitis in 2000. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is being reviewed again for possible connection to her military service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from June 22, 2016 to June 5, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of TDIU subsequent to June 5, 2019 is dismissed as moot.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current rhinitis had onset in service or is otherwise related to her active duty.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for various service-connected disabilities, including eczematoid dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints and anterior compartment syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints and anterior compartment syndrome, left hip disability, diabetes mellitus type II, hypogonadism, esophageal stricture with esophageal polyp and Schatzki's ring, and ventral hernia status post-surgery with rectus diastasis.

The Veteran's retroactive CRSC payments are remanded due to a lack of information regarding any payments and withholdings made by VA prior to April 1, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathies, bilateral plantar fasciitis and flatfeet, and allergic rhinitis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is granted a higher 10 percent rating. The claims for service connection for deviated septum and tonsillectomy, obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus are dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's initial rating for chronic allergic rhinitis with recurrent sinusitis was denied, but a separate 10 percent rating was granted for chronic sinusitis from October 21, 2008 and a 30 percent rating was assigned effective January 29, 2020.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development and readjudication due to new VA records being added to the file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea secondary to his service-connected vasomotor rhinitis, finding that there was no evidence of a link between the two conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for earaches and an increased rating for allergic rhinitis with chronic rhinosinusitis are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, a VA examination, and medical opinions regarding the nature of her symptoms and their relationship to her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at a maximum of 50 percent prior to July 22, 2019. A higher rating for sinusitis since July 22, 2019, is denied.,The Veteran's rhinitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating and a higher rating than 10 percent is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to May 7, 2020, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.