Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis, as well as pain disorder, are being remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of his conditions prior to November 21, 2013.

The Board has found that remand is needed for the issues of initial compensable evaluation for service-connected chronic allergic rhinitis and TDIU prior to July 16, 2014. The case will be returned to the AOJ for review.

The Board has granted service connection for a nasal disability, including chronic rhinitis and sinusitis with post-nasal drip, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as she is already in receipt of a combined 100% rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities, as the evidence did not show that he was in need of such assistance. The need for aid and attendance is primarily attributed to a non-service-connected neurocognitive disorder/dementia.

The Veteran's right knee condition is granted as service connected.,Service connection for a deviated septum is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, sleep apnea, and neuropathy of the legs, require regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 5, 2017 due to insufficient evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and allergic rhinitis are being returned to the RO for additional evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension, asthma, and GERD are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted as new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and allergic rhinitis have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for allergic rhinitis and eczematoid dermatitis due to the need for updated examinations addressing flare-ups, frequency, duration of symptoms, and functional loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to January 31, 2011, finding that his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has found that the evidence is not persuasive in finding that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis first manifested during service or is otherwise due to his active service, including inservice asbestos exposure. The hypertension issue remains pending and requires further development.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis, as there is no evidence of nasal polyps during the appeal period.