The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right hand disability, sinusitis with headaches, and deviated nasal septum were denied. The RO assigned a 30 percent evaluation for the service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds to the right hand, a 30 percent rating for sinusitis with headaches, and no compensable rating for the deviated nasal septum.
The deciding factor: The veteran's disabilities did not meet or approximate the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of shell fragment wounds to the second, third, and fourth fingers of the right hand, Sinusitis with sinus headaches, Deviated nasal septum
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 7, 2002
- Citation
- 0209348
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0209348.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted entitlement to TDIU from January 23, 2015 to October 16, 2017 based on the aggregate impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluding substantially gainful employment. The Board denied service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), finding the evidence persuasively weighs against any relationship to service or service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted a 10 percent rating for sinusitis with sinus headaches and remanded several other issues, including increased ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities, degenerative arthritis conditions, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis and service connection for a deviated nasal septum.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's deviated nasal septum does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it does not result in 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or total obstruction on one side.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.