The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and a 30 percent rating for posttraumatic headaches as residuals of traumatic brain injury, while remanding several other claims for further development.
The deciding factor: The evidence was at least in approximate balance regarding the onset of tinnitus during service, and the Veteran's headaches met the criteria for a 30 percent rating but not higher due to their frequency and severity.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, posttraumatic headaches, acquired psychiatric and/or cognitive disorder as a residual of TBI, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, left ring or little finger (left pinky) disability to include limitation of motion, back disability claimed as back pain, lumbosacral or cervical strain, left knee disability, including limitation of flexion, right knee disability, including limitation of flexion, right shoulder disability, claimed as joint damage
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- July 8, 2025
- Citation
- A25058435
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 service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- 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.
- 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 tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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