The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for obstructive sleep apnea with recurrent bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax was denied. His claim for scars on the posterior trunk due to the same condition was also denied. The Veteran's claim for a separate rating of 10 percent for frontal sinusitis was granted. Both his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include depression, and for TDIU were remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Obstructive sleep apnea with recurrent bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax, Frontal sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- August 3, 2020
- Citation
- 20051295
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 20051295.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's near constant sinusitis, characterized by headaches, pain and tenderness of affected sinuses, and purulent discharge or crusting after repeated surgeries, is now rated at the highest available level (50%) effective August 23, 2019.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis and a compensable rating for frontal sinusitis, but granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to the service-connected frontal sinusitis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities and left hip disability, as well as a compensable rating of 30 percent for headaches and frontal sinusitis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to incomplete development, including a missing medical report and an addendum opinion on the nature and etiology of his TBI. The AOJ is instructed to obtain the missing report and provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran has a current disability related to a TBI and if so, whether it is related to service.
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