The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher combined evaluation was denied. The Board found that the correct effective date is February 22, 2005, and his current combined evaluation of 40% is appropriate.
The deciding factor: The effective date for the award of service connection for TMJ syndrome and the assignment of a 10 percent disability rating was determined to be February 22, 2005. The Veteran's compensable service-connected disabilities (PTSD, hypertension, and TMJ syndrome) yield a current combined evaluation of 40%. The Combined Ratings Table used by VA for calculating combined evaluations does not allow for an increase in the combined rating based on the law.
- Claimed conditions
- Temporal mandibular joint syndrome, Posttraumatic stress disorder, Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 18, 2011
- Citation
- 1138660
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 1138660.
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 Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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