The VA determined that the veteran's pansinusitis with headaches did not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent, as it did not meet the criteria for more severe conditions such as chronic osteomyelitis or frequent incapacitating episodes.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that while the veteran had recurrent sinusitis and headaches, there was no documentation of chronic osteomyelitis requiring repeated curettage or severe symptoms warranting a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- pansinusitis with headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2002
- Citation
- 0217662
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 0217662.
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: Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and his DIC benefits claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted service connection, as it is secondary to his service-connected pansinusitis with headaches. The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for pansinusitis with headaches is denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board is remanding the case to obtain missing documentation, conduct an audit of retroactive payments, and provide the Veteran with a Statement of the Case. The appellant's appeal involves a claim for CUE in a decision denying attorney fees.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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