The Veteran's bilateral TMJ disorder has been characterized by frequent dislocations, locking of the jaw creating an abnormal range of motion, functional loss due to pain, fatigue and weakness. The Board finds that a 40 percent rating is appropriate for the entire period on appeal.
The deciding factor: The inter-incisal range of motion was found to be limited to a range between 0 to 10 millimeter (mm), which most closely approximates the loss off motion where the inter-incisal range of motion is 0 to 10 mm, requiring the schedular maximum 40 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 18, 2017
- Citation
- 1717213
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 1717213.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
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- Denied
The Veteran is seeking an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected temporomandibular joint disorder and a prior effective date for the grant of service connection.,The Board denied both claims, finding that the evidence did not support earlier effective dates or higher ratings.
- Denied
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- Granted
The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantial, gainful employment, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is granted.
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