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Whole decision: Denied

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and earlier effective date for a 10 percent rating for deformity of the nose was denied. The maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 6502, 'septum, nasal, deviation of,' is already assigned, so no higher rating can be granted. For the earlier effective date claim, the Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal on this issue at a prior hearing and did not file a new claim until September 21, 2017, when an increase in disability was factually ascertainable.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's nasal deformity is already rated as maximum under Diagnostic Code 6502, so no higher rating can be granted. For the earlier effective date claim, the Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal on this issue at a prior hearing and did not file a new claim until September 21, 2017.

Claimed conditions
deformity of the nose (claimed as nasal septum deviated and obstructed)
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating
Not verified here — check the original decision
Decision date
October 5, 2020
Citation
20064538

Veterans Law Judge

MICHAEL E. KILCOYNE

Decisions by this judge: 2,020 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20064538.

What this means for you

A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.

What you can do next

Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).

Related decisions

Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.

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