Runny nose, congestion, and itchy eyes are irritating symptoms many people experience from time to time. When these symptoms become persistent, and you find yourself reaching for tissues on a daily basis or staying indoors to avoid airborne allergens, you may be suffering from rhinitis.
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If you’re a veteran with a rhinitis diagnosis that is connected to your military service, you may be eligible for a rhinitis VA rating. Keep reading to learn more about this condition, what causes it, and how you can receive a VA rating for rhinitis.
In this article about the rhinitis VA rating:
Types of rhinitis
Rhinitis is when a reaction occurs that causes congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and itching in the nose, throat, ears, and eyes. While there are several different kinds of rhinitis, the most common are allergic and non-allergic rhinitis.
Allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever or seasonal rhinitis, shares similar symptoms to the common cold, but unlike a cold, it isn’t caused by a virus. Instead, allergic rhinitis is triggered by both indoor and outdoor allergens like pet hair, dust mites, pollen, weeds, mold, and spores.
When the body identifies an airborne substance (allergen) as a threat, the body will release histamine to fight the intruder, resulting in inflamed mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, and throat. Some people affected by allergic rhinitis experience symptom flares year-round, while others have symptoms that worsen at particular times of the year.
Other symptoms of allergic rhinitis include:
- Watery, itchy eyes
- Cough
- Mucus that runs down the back of your throat
- Swollen under-eyes
- Fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
The best way to tell the difference between allergic rhinitis and a cold is how long symptoms stick around. With a cold, you’re likely to feel better in a week or less. With allergic rhinitis, your symptoms will persist as long as you are exposed to the allergen triggering your condition. Allergic rhinitis is considered chronic when symptoms persist for three or more months.
Nonallergic rhinitis
Although nonallergic (or year-round) rhinitis shares similar symptoms with allergic rhinitis, it is not caused by any type of allergen. Instead, changes in the weather, hot/spicy foods, hormonal changes, certain infections, stress, common medications like aspirin and ibuprofen, and irritation from smoke, dust, and fumes in the air can trigger it.
Symptoms of non-allergic rhinitis include:
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Sneezing
- Mucus in the throat
- Cough
Itchy nose, ears, and throat are not tied to nonallergic rhinitis. Forms of nonallergic rhinitis include granulomatous rhinitis and bacterial rhinitis. They are less common than allergic rhinitis, which is what we will be focusing on in this article.
Rhinitis VA rating
Allergic or vasomotor rhinitis is rated under diagnostic code 6522. An allergic rhinitis VA rating can be as low as 10% or as high as 30%, depending on obstruction and whether you develop polyps. Polyps are soft growths in the lining of the nose that can obstruct the nasal passage.
As you can see, the ratings for allergic or vasomotor rhinitis do not go higher than 30%. However, service-connected allergic rhinitis may be linked to several other serious medical conditions. That means getting a higher rating and a bigger monthly check.
VA secondary conditions to allergic rhinitis
Aside from being a nuisance, allergic rhinitis has been linked to other respiratory illnesses, non-respiratory illnesses, and mood disorders.
Sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. Sinusitis, the inflammation of the tissue lining your sinuses, is a common complication of allergic rhinitis. When allergens irritate the sinuses, they can become blocked and swollen.
Asthma and allergic rhinitis. The same substances that trigger allergic rhinitis symptoms can also cause reactions in the lungs and airways, leading to allergic asthma.
Obstructive sleep apnea and allergic rhinitis. Although research is still ongoing, some studies suggest that altered breathing from allergic rhinitis could lead to the development of sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Additionally, rhinitis may get in the way of a veteran’s ability to use a CPAP machine to treat sleep apnea.
Migraines and allergic rhinitis. Caused in part by histamine released by allergic reactions, patients with allergic rhinitis experience more migraines than those without rhinitis.
Mood disorders and allergic rhinitis. Studies suggest allergic rhinitis is associated with higher rates of depression and suicidal behavior than those found in the general population.
If you have service-connected rhinitis and also experience any of the conditions listed above, you may want to discuss with your doctor whether a link exists between the two. You could be owed additional monthly compensation from the VA.
How to service connect rhinitis
The VA assigns disability ratings to veterans with service connected disabilities, meaning their injury or illness was caused or worsened by something they were exposed to or experienced during military service.
To establish a service connection, you will typically need a formal rhinitis diagnosis from a medical professional and a “medical nexus” proving your condition is tied to your service in some way. If you’ve already been denied, make sure this is part of your VA disability appeal.
Secondary service connection for a rhinitis VA rating
A secondary service connection can be made if another service-connected condition causes rhinitis or makes symptoms worse.
Rhinitis can be secondary to conditions like:
Rhinitis as a burn pit presumptive
For veterans with rhinitis who served near burn pits in the Gulf War or post-9/11 era and qualify under the PACT Act, there is a presumed service connection. This means if you qualify, the VA assumes your condition is service connected, without the burden of providing a medical link, or nexus, showing the tie between your rhinitis and military service.
The VA presumes veterans were exposed to burn pits if they served in any of the following areas during any of these time periods:
On or after September 11, 2001, in any of these locations:
- Afghanistan
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Syria
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen
- The airspace above any of these locations
On or after August 2, 1990, in any of these locations:
- Bahrain
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- The airspace above any of these locations
If you have chronic rhinitis and you served during one of these time periods and in one of these locations, the VA should automatically grant you a service connection. However, you will still have to show your condition meets the rating criteria to receive monthly compensation.
If you were injured while serving this country and are reading this review, I encourage you to contact Woods & Woods right away. They are always standing ready to assist veterans in need.
J.B., a Navy veteran in Virginia
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TDIU for rhinitis
Aside from making you uncomfortable, symptoms of rhinitis can affect your performance at work. If you work in an environment with fumes, smoke, or odors that trigger rhinitis symptoms, you may find yourself avoiding work or leaving work to seek relief or even see a doctor. Lack of sleep from rhinitis symptoms could also leave you feeling worn out, distracted, or mistake-prone at work.
For veterans who are unable to work due to a service-connected disability, total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) benefits may be available. TDIU pays the same monthly compensation rate as a 100% disability, without the requirement of a 100% rating.
A rating for rhinitis on its own doesn’t generally qualify for TDIU, but conditions secondary to rhinitis, as mentioned above, may help you become eligible. Keep in mind, on average, veterans receiving VA disability have more than 6 service-connected conditions each.
To be considered for TDIU, you must typically have one condition that is rated at least 60% OR two or more conditions that combine to reach 70%, with one condition rated at least 40% disabling.
How Woods & Woods can help
If you have rhinitis because of your military service, you may be eligible for monthly, tax-free VA compensation. You don’t have to navigate the claims process on your own. The VA-accredited attorneys at Woods & Woods have helped thousands of veterans nationwide get the full benefits they deserve. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the VA considers rhinitis to be potentially disabling. Depending on what type of rhinitis you’ve been diagnosed with, you could earn a rating between 10% and 100% disabling. Allergic rhinitis is most commonly diagnosed in veterans and has a potential rating of 10% or 30%.
Rhinitis on its own doesn’t typically qualify for TDIU, but conditions secondary to rhinitis, like sleep apnea and migraines, can help you qualify.
Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
