talusians

Thanks deedub. I'm sorry you have had so many issues with rhinitis and sinusitis. Hopefully you are doing well now after your surgery? I have seen an ENT through Kaiser for it. They were the ones that also diagnosed my asthma and vocal cord dysfunction. My next move, if the VA doesn't do an endoscopy, is to go back to them for it. I mean, I may not have any polyps, but I'd like it ruled out officially. I had already decided to go back to them anyways and get everything squared away, documentation wise, for the secondary conditions. My rhinitis started in service, but all of this other stuff has developed and continues to worsen in the 17 years since I left Iraq. I probably had asthma in service because I remember not being able to get enough air and passing out in the barracks after runs, but I never saw anyone for it so I can't prove it. Rhinitis can certainly effect asthma though. I've just mainly dealt with everything by taking allegra D every once in awhile since you're not supposed to take it daily, using my inhaler, avoiding caffeine...etc, but the heavy smoke Colorado has had the past few years is driving me bonkers. I can't stand not being able to get full breaths, having trouble swallowing, constant drainage, hoarse voice and having this constant clicking and plugged effect in my right ear, feeling sick and getting headaches every freaking day. It is exhausting and makes it hard to concentrate to work. So I finally filed after I saw the rhinitis presumptive service announcement come out, checked my records and put two and two together that all of this is easily service connected.

Hi broncovet. Thanks for the reply. I am familiar with pyramiding as I am rated the same for thoracic outlet syndrome and cubital tunnel issues because they affect the same nerve in my right arm, which is the ulnar nerve. I keep mentioning polyps because that is the rating criteria for 30% for rhinitis, which is the highest you can get for that issue. The rating is 10% without ployps, but with greater than 50% obstruction on both sides or full obstruction on one side. I don't think checking to see if I have them prior to a rating decision is too much to ask. Honestly, I don't know how they would rate my rhinitis without having that information.

Hi Berta...yes, I called the 800 number and spoke to someone in the Comp and Pen department. She wrote up what I told her, sent it on to Regional and said I should hear from them within the next week. I would like to ask them some questions. For example, the evaluator said I would need an endoscopy to determine if I have nasal polyps. Will the VA order that before making a decision? On the DBQ, she is supposed to list anything related to Ear, Nose and Throat that I have. She didn't ask me anything outside of specific Rhinitis questions. I believe my secondary issues should have been noted. There is a section for it. I think the vocal cord dysfunction might even fall under the laryngitis section. Anyone with half a brain can hear it when I speak which should have prompted a question from her, in my opinion. I voluntarily mentioned the conditions to her, but she was uninterested and said I would be asked about those if I submit future claims for them. Also, the VA requested the General Medical Gulf War DBQ be completed by this NP, along with the ENT DBQ for my actual claim. I'm not sure why they added it, but it certainly wasn't done so I want to make sure the VA is aware of that. There is no way that NP could answer all the questions on that DBQ without asking me. She has no idea what types of exposure I had or what issues I deal with now. The VA doesn't have everything in their records. She never even asked me anything about Iraq. How could she in a 5 minute eval??? Ridiculous. I was hoping the VA added the Gulf War DBQ because they were actually doing the right thing and wanted to add other issues to my claim. I haven't been able to find any information from other Vets that had the VA add that DBQ to their claim though. Anyways, I'm not sure I want to call LHI. I don't trust them. Should I call the WH hotline now or wait until I hear back from whoever is supposed to follow-up with me from "Regional"?

Thanks GBArmy!

I applied for compensation for Rhinitis. Service connection is presumed based on my time in Iraq in 2003, but it is also noted in my exit exam when I left service. The c & p was set up through LHI and I had the appointment today. Service Requested on the appointment confirmation says DBQ General Medical Gulf War, DBQ ENT Sinusitis, Rhinitis & Other ENT Conditions, DBQ Medical Opinion - MED: ENT Sinusitis, Rhinitis & Other ENT Conditions. The appointment was supposed to last 75 minutes. I went in at noon and was out at 12:05. I know for a 30% rating for Rhinitis, I would have to have nasal polyps. I don't know if I do. I asked the evaluator about it and she said an endoscopy would need to be done and that she didn't know if I did, but probably not. Ok. How would the evaluator answer the nasal polyp question on the DBQ? I'm assuming she would need to leave it blank. Will the VA ask for an endoscopy before rating me? If I end up only being rated 0% after being properly evaluated, that's fine, but I do plan on adding my asthma, vocal cord dysfunction and Eustachian tube dysfunction as secondary to Rhinitis once it's on my record. Has anyone had success doing this? Also, I wasn't asked anything on the Gulf War DBQ. I did call the VA and report that it wasn't done as requested because I don't want to find out later that this doc turned it in with made up answers. Has anyone had this happen before where an evaluator does not do any type of exam or ask any questions for a DBQ the VA requested?