The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for acne and a higher effective date for service connection for rhinitis were denied. The claim for PTSD with major depressive disorder and anxious distress was also denied, but the effective date for the assigned 70 percent rating was not changed.
The deciding factor: The AOJ found that the Veteran's acne did not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating as there were no deep acne lesions affecting less than 40 percent of her face and neck. The service connection for rhinitis was granted on a presumptive basis under VA regulations, but the effective date could not be earlier than November 18, 2021, due to the regulatory change allowing such presumptions. The PTSD claim was denied as there were no occupational or social impairments warranting a higher rating prior to March 4, 2021.
- Claimed conditions
- rhinitis, acne, bilateral plantar fasciitis, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with major depressive disorder and anxious distress
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 12, 2024
- Citation
- A24073478
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,050 · Granted: 32% (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 A24073478.
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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeals regarding the evaluation of bilateral plantar fasciitis and residuals of fractures of the second, fourth, and fifth left toes, as well as the evaluation of bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy with loss of use, are dismissed as untimely.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and his service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: 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.
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