The Board found that the veteran's current TMJ dysfunction and ankle disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or a service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not establish a link between the veteran's current dental condition (TMJ dysfunction) and his in-service mandible fracture. The VA examinations found no clear diagnosis of TMJ dysfunction and provided highly probative evidence against this claim. For the ankle disabilities, there was no severe impairment warranting a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of fractures of the second and third metatarsals and cuboid bones of the left foot, with associated left ankle instability, TMJ dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 5, 2006
- Citation
- 0613185
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,319 · Granted: 25% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0613185.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied as his disability has already been rated at the maximum allowable level.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence of a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes during the pendency of this appeal.,Service connection for a right shoulder disorder, headaches, TMJ dysfunction, hypertension, vertigo, and respiratory condition are all denied as there is no persuasive evidence that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.
- Denied
The Board denied an effective date earlier than August 29, 2022, for the award of service connection for TMJ dysfunction.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for TMJ dysfunction and an initial 20 percent rating for right ankle strain, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to a finding of a duty to assist error related to the claim for service connection for depression, and the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.
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