The Board denied a higher rating for dental injury residuals on and after February 16, 2002, finding that the veteran's inter-incisal range was 30 millimeters, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found the veteran had an inter-incisal range of 30 millimeters and no malunion or nonunion of the mandible, which is the highest rating available under the applicable diagnostic code.
- Claimed conditions
- dental injury, temporomandibular joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 27, 2006
- Citation
- 0602458
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,642 · 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 0602458.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including patellofemoral pain syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder, tinnitus, Bell's palsy residuals, abdominal pain and diarrhea, right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, folliculitis, temporomandibular joint disease, hyposmia associated with Bell's palsy residuals, loss of taste associated with Bell's palsy residuals, and scar, right lower extremity, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period. As such, he is entitled to a TDIU.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's dental injury and lower jaw pain, including lack of a medical opinion on bone loss and TMJ disorder.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The issue is now remanded for further examination.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims.
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