The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis, and deviated nasal septum. The Veteran's sinusitis is granted with a 10% rating from September 30, 2014 to February 28, 2018, and a 50% rating effective March 7, 2018. A compensable rating for deviated nasal septum prior to January 31, 2019 is denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of the deviated nasal septum is withdrawn.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's sinusitis symptoms more closely approximated a 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 6510 due to three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year, while his deviated nasal septum warranted a 10% rating effective January 31, 2019.
- Claimed conditions
- sinusitis, deviated nasal septum
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20049390
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 20049390.
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.
- 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.
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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.
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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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