The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claim of secondary service connection for fluid build-up in his right ear, nose and eye as being related to his service-connected traumatic radiculopathy of the right mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve.
The deciding factor: The July 2009 VA examination report concluded that the Veteran's current ear and sinus condition were less likely than not caused by or a result of his service-connected trigeminal nerve damage, due to the lack of evidence involving involvement of the maxillary portion of the fifth cranial nerve.
- Claimed conditions
- Fluid build-up in the right ear, Serous otitis media in the right ear, Chronic sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2010
- Citation
- 1001363
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 1001363.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The appeal for higher ratings and effective dates for various conditions was denied, with the exception of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy which were granted an earlier effective date.
- Dismissed
The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran before the Board promulgated a decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board dismissed the issue challenging a July 2025 higher-level review decision proposal to sever service connection for nasal septum deviation and found that new and relevant evidence has not been submitted to readjudicate the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The matter regarding an initial compensable rating for chronic sinusitis is remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for chronic sinusitis, service connection for a right knee condition and left knee condition.
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