The Veteran seeks service connection for a chronic sinus disability, including rhinitis, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected nasal deformity with scar on bridge of nose. The Board has determined that another VA examination is necessary to address the conflicting medical opinions and determine if there is any causal or aggravating relationship between the Veteran's service-connected condition and his claimed chronic sinus disability.
The deciding factor: The conflicting medical opinions require further clarification regarding the nature, etiology, and relationship of the Veteran's chronic sinus disability to his service-connected nasal deformity with scar on bridge of nose.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic sinus disability, rhinitis
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 20, 2012
- Citation
- 1221482
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 1221482.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's rhinitis and gastric ulcer with hiatal hernia were evaluated, but the Board found that neither condition warranted a higher rating.,For rhinitis, the evidence did not show greater than 50 percent obstruction of both nasal passages or complete obstruction on one side. For gastric ulcer with hiatal hernia, symptoms were described as infrequent and mild.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis on a direct basis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service, including exposure to environmental factors during Operation Desert Storm.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete findings and failure to properly address the onset, cause, and nature of his conditions. The VA will need to schedule examinations to determine if his rhinitis and bilateral hand disabilities are related to service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis as there is no evidence of these conditions during the appeal period.
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