The Veteran was granted initial disability ratings of 40 percent for temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), 20 percent for right eye cataract, and 10 percent for right eye corneal scar.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the severity of the symptoms as documented in VA examinations conducted throughout the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), Right eye cataract, Right eye corneal scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 4, 2025
- Citation
- 25001644
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,604 · Granted: 65% (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 25001644.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for TMJ and remanded the claims of increased rating for major depressive disorder and service connection for PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's TMJ and Erectile Dysfunction claims are remanded for further development due to duty-to-assist errors.
- Granted
The Veteran's rating for TMJ was reduced from 40 percent to 30 percent in March 2016, and then further reduced to 10 percent in November 2022. The appeal challenges the propriety of these reductions, with the Board finding that a reduction is warranted as there has not been sustained improvement in the Veteran's TMJ under ordinary conditions of life and work.
- Denied
The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the February 2000 rating decision that granted a 10 percent initial rating for temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ).
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.