The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral temporomandibular joint dysfunction is granted, but an effective date prior to April 2, 2015, is not warranted. Service connection for otitis externa as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis and TDIU are granted.
The deciding factor: The most persuasive evidence does not support a finding of increased disability in the year prior to the Veteran's April 2015 claim for an increase rating, but she is entitled to an effective date of April 2, 2015, based on her earlier claim. Service connection for otitis externa and TDIU are granted.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral temporomandibular joint dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- January 19, 2024
- Citation
- 24003013
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,863 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 24003013.
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
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