The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and SBO, but denied service connection for myofascial pain of the lumbar spine. The veteran was awarded a noncompensable rating for his left knee disability in March 1995 and a compensable (10%) rating for his right knee disability as of November 1994.
The deciding factor: The Board found that SBO is not service-connected due to its congenital nature, but granted service connection for sinusitis. The veteran's left knee disability was initially rated noncompensably disabling and later upgraded to a compensable rating effective March 2000.
- Claimed conditions
- Myofascial Pain of the Lumbar Spine, Sinusitis, Spina Bifida Occulta (SBO)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- June 8, 2001
- Citation
- 0115851
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0115851.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's sinusitis is currently rated at a noncompensable evaluation. The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for sinusitis as of February 19, 2021, based on the number and duration of incapacitating episodes requiring antibiotic treatment.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine and lumbar spine conditions, left knee condition, right knee condition, and sinusitis. The Veteran was granted service connection for chronic laryngeal papillomatosis.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw their appeal.
- Denied
The Veteran's sinusitis was rated as noncompensable for the period prior to December 9, 2024. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on the severity of his symptoms and lack of incapacitating episodes.
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