The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for injury to the pharynx and a separate rating of 10 percent, but no higher, for chronic laryngitis. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show stricture or obstruction of the pharynx or nasopharynx, absence of the soft palate, or paralysis of the soft palate with swallowing difficulty and speech impairment for injury to the pharynx. For chronic laryngitis, there was no indication of thickening or nodules of cords, polyps, submucous infiltration, or pre-malignant changes on biopsy.
- Claimed conditions
- Injury to the pharynx, Chronic laryngitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 11, 2026
- Citation
- 26001947
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 26001947.
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: Partly granted
The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for chronic laryngitis but denied an initial compensable rating for injury to the pharynx. The Board also remanded several service connection claims and a TDIU claim.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the reduction of the disability rating from 100 percent to 10 percent for stage I squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, effective January 1, 2015, was proper.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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