The Board granted an effective date of April 2, 2015, for the assignment of a 30 percent rating for bilateral temporomandibular joint dysfunction but denied a higher rating. Service connection was also granted for otitis externa as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis and denied for bilateral hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the evidence supporting an increase in disability for otitis externa, while the evidence did not support a finding of increased hearing loss or a higher rating for temporomandibular joint dysfunction beyond 30 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral temporomandibular joint dysfunction, otitis externa, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- January 19, 2024
- Citation
- 24003013
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, while fibromyalgia, internal or external hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, and neuropathy are denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.
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