The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and for service connection for residuals of dental trauma, finding that no evidence supported such claims.
The deciding factor: The veteran did not have a pre-existing condition or injury in his mouth prior to service. The claim for service connection for residuals of dental trauma was denied as there is no indication of a combat-related injury or other service trauma resulting in the claimed disability.
- Claimed conditions
- traumatic arthritis of the right ankle, residuals of dental trauma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2006
- Citation
- 0636040
Veterans Law Judge
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 0636040.
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: Denied
The Board denied service connection for residuals of dental trauma, finding that the evidence did not support a claim for compensation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.150.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous instructions, and it will be readjudicated for service connection of residuals of dental trauma.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's annual VA clothing allowance for the HG80 hinged knee brace is granted. However, his claim for an annual VA clothing allowance due to use of hydrophilic and menthol topical creams is denied.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal of the denial of right ear hearing loss is dismissed. The claim for traumatic arthritis of the right ankle is remanded and readjudicated.
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