The Board found no evidence of dental trauma during service that resulted in the veteran's lost teeth. As a result, service connection for lost teeth is denied.
The deciding factor: There was no documented evidence of dental trauma or injury to the mouth resulting from service, and all missing teeth were replaceable.
- Claimed conditions
- lost teeth
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 14, 2003
- Citation
- 0320296
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 0320296.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's dental surgery in November 2008 and subsequent infection resulted in additional disabilities such as facial pigmentation, damaged facial nerve, lost teeth, and heart problems including the insertion of a pacemaker. The Board finds remand necessary due to inadequate medical evidence linking these conditions to the VA treatment.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran does not have a disability manifested by cracked teeth or lost teeth that is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD. The Board finds that the dental condition was less likely than not caused by bruxism related to PTSD.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for lost teeth (dental disability) and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The original denial of these claims remains final.
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