The Board has determined that the Veteran's TMJ dysfunction is due to disease or injury incurred in service, and his eustachian tube dysfunction of the ears does not meet the criteria for service connection. The right shoulder disability was granted with an initial rating of 10 percent prior to April 13, 2010, and a 20 percent rating effective from that date.
The deciding factor: The September 2010 VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's TMJ dysfunction is not related to his in-service trismus but rather due to stress, anxiety, and occlusal disharmony. The August 2008 medical opinion supports this conclusion by attributing the TMJ dysfunction directly to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 3, 2011
- Citation
- 1140868
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1140868.
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 Board has determined that the Veteran's TMJ dysfunction began during her active duty service and is granting service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's TMJ disability is rated at a 20 percent rating for the entire initial rating period on appeal, effective March 10, 2017.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and a need for further evaluation of bone loss related to TMJ dysfunction.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's TMJ dysfunction is related to an in-service head and face injury, granting service connection for this condition.
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