The Veteran's sinusitis is granted as secondary to her service-connected allergic rhinitis. The increased ratings for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome are granted, with the right hand receiving a higher rating than the left. The evaluation for valvular heart disease remains at 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners provided consistent opinions supporting the Veteran's claims of secondary service connection for sinusitis, increased ratings for her carpal tunnel syndromes, and maintained the current evaluation for her valvular heart disease.
- Claimed conditions
- sinusitis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, valvular heart disease
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- February 19, 2026
- Citation
- 26002318
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 26002318.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for valvular heart disease, peripheral vascular disease of the right and left legs, and hypertension were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
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.
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