The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder).,Service connection is also granted for internal derangement left knee with limitation of flexion, a separate rating for extension prior to March 17, 2018, and an increased rating from March 17, 2018. The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.
The deciding factor: The additional evidence received since the January 1973 RO decision is new and material with respect to sinusitis, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the service connection claim for sinusitis. The Board finds that the Veteran's November 2018 reports relate to the basis for the prior denial to confirm current symptoms and suggest continuous symptoms since service.
- Claimed conditions
- sinusitis, degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19113174
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,604 · Granted: 65% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19113174.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and has ordered the case back to the AOJ for proper notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for sinusitis is being remanded due to a failure by the AOJ to provide proper notice of his right to a hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic lower back pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, neck pain, and GERD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and authorization for private treatment providers. The issues include heart disorder, OSA, sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder all related to Agent Orange exposure.
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