Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for prostate cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), rhinitis, and right ankle sprain due to inadequate medical opinions.,The VA examiner failed to provide adequate rationale for their negative opinion regarding the Veteran's prostate cancer claim. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error as there is no adequate medical opinion of record addressing whether the Veteran's prostate cancer is etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's left foot pes planus, rhinitis, and sinusitis have been granted service connection. The rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and lumbar foraminal stenosis has been restored to a 20 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for chronic sinusitis/rhinitis and a left knee disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. A VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), including as secondary to his service-connected rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, tinnitus, and sinus condition. The decision is based on pre-decisional duty to assist errors related to obtaining medical records from Dr. Donn Dexter and the need for new VA opinions addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's OSA.

The Veteran's right eye condition, central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR), is not rated higher than noncompensable due to the absence of incapacitating episodes or other visual impairment.,His allergic rhinitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as there is no evidence of obstruction of nasal passages on both sides.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to make a fully reasoned determination on the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to his service-connected congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, sinusitis, and rhinitis. The case is being remanded to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's OSA, including aggravation by a service-connected disability and obesity as an 'intermediate step.'

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of aggravation or secondary service connection, and that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness for allergic rhinitis and appendectomy residuals.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sinusitis and rhinitis for further examination as the previous VA medical opinion is inadequate.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis, posttraumatic headache, left shoulder strain, and right shoulder strain have been granted service connection with initial evaluations of 10 percent each.

The Board denied service connection for sinus headaches, allergic rhinitis, rubella, gastroenteritis/GERD, and vertigo/dizziness/lightheadedness as there is no evidence of current disabilities at the time the claims were filed.,The Board remanded cases involving lung cancer (claimed as secondary to asbestos exposure, herbicide exposure and exposure to lead paint), COPD (claimed as secondary to asbestos exposure and exposure to lead paint), and sinusitis for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for allergic rhinitis based on a theory other than the PACT Act was dismissed because the appellant requested to withdraw her appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and headaches as secondary to tinnitus. The conditions are presumed related to the Veteran's exposure to cold weather during his active duty in Germany.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis was denied, and his claim for a TDIU was granted beginning May 1, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected non-allergic rhinitis has been rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.