The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings for his chronic sinusitis, right knee laxity and degenerative joint disease, or left ankle disability.
The deciding factor: The VA found that the provided medical evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for chronic sinusitis, as it was productive of no incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment. The VA also determined that there were no more than slight lateral instability and infrequent locking in the right knee, which did not warrant higher ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Sinusitis, Degenerative Joint Disease of the Right Knee, Postoperative, Laxity of the Right Knee, Status Post Ligament Repair Surgery, Left Ankle Ligament Injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 18, 2006
- Citation
- 0639438
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,325 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0639438.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA medical exams provided are inadequate for rating purposes and remands the case to obtain an adequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Veteran is entitled to a higher disability rating for his service-connected allergic rhinitis.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with unspecified depressive and generalized anxiety disorder was granted. The appeal regarding the compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal. The claim for an increased rating for chronic sinusitis is remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted a 30 percent initial disability rating for allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis from November 27, 2023. The Veteran's earlier effective dates of service connection are also confirmed.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis and denied a compensable rating for chronic sinusitis, both effective from August 18, 2022.
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