The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus was granted, and a 10 percent rating was assigned for hypertension. The claims for an initial compensable disability rating for loss of teeth, and increased ratings for TMJD, shell fragment wounds, and maxillary sinusitis were denied.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and is related to his active military service, while hypertension required continuous medication but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The other claims were denied as they did not meet the necessary criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, hypertension, loss of teeth, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD), residuals, shell fragment wounds, left cheek with fracture, avulsion, loss of portion of mandible, and malunion of mandible, maxillary sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25032648
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
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