BVA decisions by condition
Nasal septum deviation: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a nasal septum deviation issue in 1,151 decisions. It granted the nasal septum deviation issue in 17.2% of them, below the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 32.3%, and remanded it in 47.2%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 34.7% were granted.
Decisions
1,151
2017–2026
Granted
17.2%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
34.7%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
47.2%
Denied: 32.3%
Nasal septum deviation outcomes by year
| Year | Issues decided | Granted | Denied | Remanded | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 84 | 10.7% | 23.8% | 52.4% | 13.1% |
| 2018 | 111 | 10.8% | 43.2% | 41.4% | 4.5% |
| 2019 | 136 | 14.7% | 23.5% | 58.8% | 2.9% |
| 2020 | 128 | 15.6% | 36.7% | 45.3% | 2.3% |
| 2021 | 121 | 12.4% | 26.4% | 58.7% | 2.5% |
| 2022 | 110 | 14.5% | 34.5% | 49.1% | 1.8% |
| 2023 | 140 | 21.4% | 32.9% | 40.7% | 5.0% |
| 2024 | 142 | 26.1% | 29.6% | 43.7% | 0.7% |
| 2025 | 142 | 22.5% | 38.0% | 36.6% | 2.8% |
| 2026 | 51 | 23.5% | 27.5% | 45.1% | 3.9% |
Each row counts issues (each condition the Board decided), so the shares add up to 100%. Other: dismissed, withdrawn or no clear outcome. Years with fewer than 50 issues are left out.
Evidence in granted and denied nasal septum deviation decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the nasal septum deviation issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 206 | 63.7% | 25.7% | +38.0 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 167 | 59.3% | 28.7% | +30.6 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 334 | 49.5% | 27.8% | +21.6 pts |
| Combat service | 65 | 54.8% | 33.6% | +21.3 pts |
| Buddy statement | 64 | 51.4% | 33.6% | +17.8 pts |
| Lay statement | 924 | 37.2% | 23.5% | +13.7 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 66 | 36.4% | 34.7% | +1.7 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 74.2% of the decisions that granted nasal septum deviation.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 43.9% of grants and 13.4% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often nasal septum deviation was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 540 | 34.6% | 34.9% | −0.3 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 794 | 32.1% | 42.9% | −10.8 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied nasal septum deviation
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established29
- Presumption of soundness not rebutted7
- Criteria for service connection met3
- Service connection granted3
- Positive nexus opinion from VA examiner3
- Positive VA medical opinion linking condition to service2
- Veteran's credible testimony regarding in-service injury2
- Diagnosed during service2
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim37
- No current diagnosis35
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis33
- Service records negative or silent27
- Current diagnosis established22
- Already at the maximum schedular rating22
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service15
- Criteria for compensable rating not met11
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent nasal septum deviation decisions
Granted
Benefit of the doubt applied; Lay statements found credible and probative; Evidence in approximate balance
Condition manifested during service; VA examiner opinion is probative and favorable; No contrary competent medical opinions
Private examination confirmed traumatic deviated septum with right-sided obstruction.; CT scan showed deviated septum with spur and defect.; Veteran's testimony described complete obstruction of right nasal passage.
Denied
No in-service trauma found.; Post-service diagnosis of non-traumatic deviated septum.; Rating would constitute impermissible pyramiding with existing sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.
Criteria for rating in excess of 10 percent not met; No evidence of polyps or greater than 50% nasal obstruction
Evidence weighs against incurrence/relation to service; No in-service event, injury, or illness linked
Rules that apply to nasal septum deviation claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your nasal septum deviation case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a nasal septum deviation issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.