The Board has determined that the veteran's service records show a facial injury during active duty, resulting in loosening of teeth and a fracture. The VA examination confirmed temporomandibular joint syndrome as a residual of this injury, which is considered a direct service connection.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the diagnosed temporomandibular joint syndrome was consistent with the veteran's history of service injury.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of facial injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 25, 2003
- Citation
- 0305611
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,555 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0305611.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of facial injury, nasal trauma, and allergic rhinitis were granted due to new and relevant evidence. Additionally, the veteran was granted a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for residuals of facial injury, to include scarring, is denied as the scar does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's rating schedule.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a facial injury, arthritis of the back, arthritis of the feet, left great toe condition, and bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's conditions are found to be aggravated by his active duty service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a facial injury. The claims for TBI and cervical spine disorder have also been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.
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