Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2021

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including obtaining outstanding records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's service-connected conditions of sinusitis, major depressive disorder, chondromalacia patella, right knee, and chronic lumbosacral strain/sprain are still under review.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee disability was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a), but referred the case to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extra-schedular rating due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and requests for additional development. The Veteran's respiratory disability, including allergic rhinitis or hay fever, is presumed to have been caused by in-service exposure to an herbicide agent while serving in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and rhinitis have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney stones was denied in July 2015, and the claim has been reopened due to new evidence. The kidney stones were not shown to be related to service.,Service connection for IBS was granted in July 2015 with a 30% rating effective November 19, 2014. The Veteran's appeal of the effective date is dismissed as untimely.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed sinus condition that originated in service or is otherwise etiologically related to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a sinus condition is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, but his service connection claim for chronic allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinus condition) was granted.