The Board granted service connection for residuals of a TBI, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD), and residuals of a broken nose. The Veteran was also granted an earlier effective date for left lower extremity radiculopathy and an initial disability rating of 40 percent for the same condition.
The deciding factor: The Board resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, finding that his TBI, TMD, and broken nose residuals were related to in-service parachuting and rappelling accidents. The evidence was at least in relative equipoise on these issues.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD), Residuals of a broken nose, Migraine headaches, as secondary to one or more service-connected disabilities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 1, 2025
- Citation
- 25008614
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.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of November 5, 2021, for the grants of service connection and eligibility for DEA benefits.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and migraine headaches, but remanded the claims for a low back disability and related radiculopathies.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection for a facial injury, head injury, and left thumb injury as there was no evidence of current disability or functional impairment. The claims for GERD, squamous mucosa, migraine headaches, and hypertension were remanded for further development.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and special monthly compensation based on the need of regular aid and attendance, while remanding the issue of service connection for a seizures disorder.
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