The Veteran's residuals of traumatic brain injury, including complete loss of sense of smell and taste, tinnitus, headaches with characteristic prostrating attacks, and dizziness resulting in occasional staggering, are rated at a maximum of 40 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms meet the criteria for a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 8045 (residuals of traumatic brain injury) due to his complete loss of sense of smell and taste, tinnitus, headaches with characteristic prostrating attacks, and dizziness resulting in occasional staggering.
- Claimed conditions
- Complete loss of sense of smell, Complete loss of sense of taste, Tinnitus, Headaches with characteristic prostrating attacks occurring more than an average of one in 2 months but not resulting in completely prostrating and prolonged attacks; phonophobia and photophobia are associated with the headaches., Dizziness with balance problems resulting in occasional staggering
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 7, 2013
- Citation
- 1304401
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 1304401.
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.
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The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Denied
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- Denied
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- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus with hammer toes, hallux valgus and degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral kidney cysts, rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.
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