Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2000

The Board found no evidence of a well-grounded claim for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.,PTSD was not established as the veteran did not provide specific verified stressors in service.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus and a right shoulder disorder. However, the claims for other conditions are not well-grounded.

The veteran's claims for sinusitis, postoperative pituitary tumor, allergic rhinitis, and hemorrhoids with rectal bleeding were previously addressed. The appeals for the postoperative pituitary tumor and hemorrhoids with rectal bleeding are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's postoperative residuals of a hemilaminectomy for a herniated disc at L5-S1 and allergic rhinitis, both currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and other disabilities render him unable to attend to his daily needs without the assistance of another person, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma and chronic sinusitis on a direct basis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's disabilities do not permit training to begin within a reasonable period; thus, achievement of a vocational goal is infeasible at this time.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for allergic rhinitis and reactive airway disease, finding that the disability picture does not more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating under either the former or revised criteria.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and hay fever, chronic right knee disability, chronic left knee disability, and a chronic pulmonary disability. The claims are well-grounded as there is evidence suggesting these conditions may be related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, abnormal reaction to insect bites, head disability, neck disability, and right foot disability other than residuals of frozen feet are not well grounded due to lack of competent medical evidence showing current disabilities.

The veteran has been granted service connection for a deviated nasal septum and allergic rhinitis, both conditions that were incurred during his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected chronic sinusitis and rhinitis, as well as his claims for service connection for a stomach condition (ulcer) and diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the veteran's sinusitis with allergic rhinitis did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his symptoms were no more than moderate and he had infrequent episodes.

The veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for allergic rhinitis and right knee disorder are granted. The initial rating of 10 percent is maintained for allergic rhinitis, while a higher rating is denied since May 15, 1997, for the right knee disorder.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected bronchial asthma with rhinitis, currently rated at 30 percent. The evidence shows that the veteran experiences shortness of breath on walking briskly two blocks or one flight of stairs, occasional wheezing, and seasonal exacerbations without requiring more than one visit to a physician every two months for care.