Citation Nr: 21005374
Decision Date: 02/01/21	Archive Date: 02/01/21

DOCKET NO. 13-28 395A
DATE: February 1, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis prior to June 2, 2017, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran had active service from May 1990 to July 2011.

This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from an April 2012 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) which, in pertinent part, granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and assigned an initial noncompensable rating, effective August 1, 2011.

In an August 2017 rating decision, the RO increased the rating for the Veteran’s service-connected allergic rhinitis to 10 percent, effective June 2, 2017. 

The issue was previously before the Board in June 2019 when it was remanded in order to allow the RO to readjudicate the claim considering all of the evidence of record.

In a November 2020 Post-Remand Brief, the Veteran, through her representative, stated that her condition “has worsened since the last 2017 VA examination and the treatment she has been receiving relieves allergies but not the nasal passage obstructions.”  The Veteran indicated that “there is still a greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passages on both sides with permanent hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates.”  See November 2020 Post-Remand Brief. 

Accordingly, as the evidence of record indicates that the Veteran’s allergic rhinitis has increased in severity since the Veteran was last examined by VA, she should be provided an opportunity to report for a VA examination to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of her allergic rhinitis.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of her service-connected allergic rhinitis.  The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s disability under the rating criteria.

A clear rationale for all opinions would be helpful and a discussion of the facts and medical principles involved would be of considerable assistance to the Board.

 

 

M. Donohue

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	S. Morrad, Counsel

The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.