Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2003

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a higher evaluation for rhinitis and sinusitis, with history of nasal polyps, under both old and new rating criteria. The veteran's service-connected condition does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted the veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, costochondritis, and bronchitis. The claim for service connection for pneumonia was denied. A 10% rating is granted for a left varicocele with tenderness.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome. The veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disorders are also considered to be related to his active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% disability rating for sinusitis/allergic rhinitis, finding that there was no increase in disability within one year prior to November 10, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for allergic rhinitis. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations. The appeal is currently pending due to this additional development.

The VA has granted service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist and assigned an initial noncompensable rating, while chronic rhinitis remains without a compensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and an increased evaluation for his gastrointestinal disorder, finding no evidence of chronic conditions in service or subsequent to service. The joint disease claim was not addressed as it pertained to issues not related to service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of these claims.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for heart disorder, irregular menses with endometriosis, chronic genitourinary disease, bilateral fibrocystic breast disease, and allergic rhinitis with alleged sinusitis. The claim for service connection for bronchitis remains denied as new evidence is not significant enough to reopen it.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for vasomotor rhinitis, finding that the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating. The veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is rated under Diagnostic Codes 6522 and 6523.

The Board has determined that the veteran's restrictive airway disease (asthma) and chronic rhinitis/sinusitis are service-connected, with no indication of any presumptive exposure or undiagnosed illness.

Your appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to your failure to file a timely substantive appeal.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues listed on the front page of this decision.