The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a separate rating for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities have been granted. He is now rated at 10 percent for chronic sinusitis, with no higher initial rating allowed. His left ear hearing loss has also been granted service connection, but he does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating. The Veteran's cervical spine and ankle conditions are each rated at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran demonstrated a decline in hearing acuity during military service, which was aggravated by service. His sinusitis resulted in non-incapacitating episodes of headaches and pain that did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating under the General Rating Formula for Sinusitis. The cervical spine condition met the criteria for a 10 percent rating based on limitation of motion and degenerative changes, while the ankle condition met the criteria for a 10 percent rating based on some limitation of motion and degenerative changes.
- Claimed conditions
- left ear hearing loss, sinusitis, post-traumatic arthropathy of the left ankle, spondylosis of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- June 24, 2010
- Citation
- 1023626
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 1023626.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, elbows condition, cervical condition, erectile dysfunction, kidney condition, sleep apnea, wrists condition, asthma, shoulders condition, ankles condition, eye condition (bilateral dry macular degeneration), peripheral vascular disease (heart condition), and rhinitis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
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