The Board has determined that a VA medical examination is necessary to evaluate the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current dental condition, including whether it is at least as likely as not due to in-service trauma. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's missing teeth or other current dental disability are related to in-service trauma and cannot provide a definitive opinion without resort to speculation.
- Claimed conditions
- missing teeth, dental trauma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 14, 2014
- Citation
- 1431420
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 1431420.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental condition, including tooth loss due to injury, is being remanded as the VA examination scheduled in March 2025 was not conducted due to the Veteran's failure to appear. The Board finds that the Veteran should be rescheduled for a new VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the previously denied claims of vision, dental trauma, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, low back condition, pes planus and plantar fasciitis, right knee condition, left knee condition, and bilateral hearing loss. These claims are being remanded to the AOJ for further adjudication.
- Denied
The Veteran's service connection claim for a dental disorder, including missing teeth due to jaw surgery during service, was denied as the evidence did not support a finding of service trauma or malpractice.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's dental disability, including caries, missing teeth, and TMD/bruxism, is related to his active service. The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities.
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