Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis, post-surgical condition with atrophic rhinitis, warrants a restoration of a 30 percent disability rating. However, the evidence does not support an increase to a higher rating.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected asthma with allergic rhinitis and bronchospasm, finding that daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy is sufficient to meet the criteria for this rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including fatigue, feverishness, night sweats and hot flashes, chest pains, shortness of breath and asthma, joint and muscle pain, eye disorder, stomach aches, diarrhea, rectal itching, headaches, and allergic rhinitis. The veteran's claim was based on new evidence.

The veteran's sleep apnea claim resulted in a 50 percent evaluation, effective December 9, 2002.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis was granted with an effective date of March 14, 2002.

The veteran's right ankle disability is not service connected.,Tension headaches are service-connected and rated as noncompensable.

The Board finds that the veteran's current postoperative residuals of pterygium of the left eye were incurred as a result of service. The schedular criteria for a 10 percent evaluation have been met for service-connected sinusitis and rhinitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and chronic allergic rhinitis, finding that there was no medical nexus between his current conditions and his military service. The claim for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for respiratory disability other than allergic rhinitis is denied. The claim for service connection for elevated cholesterol is without legal merit.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and his request for an increased rating for pansinusitis with allergic rhinitis, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the hearing loss claim and that the current disability ratings were appropriate.

The Board found that the veteran's currently diagnosed chronic allergic rhinitis and/or left maxilla sinusitis are not causally related to active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, chronic allergic rhinitis, arthritis of the left knee, and arthritis of the right knee with torn meniscus and popliteal cyst. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, finding no current disability or evidence of in-service injury that would support these claims.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. Service connection was not granted for rhinitis, tinea pedis, or recurrent pneumonia.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to his service, and thus denied.