Service connection for dental trauma is granted, and a separate rating of 10 percent is granted for degenerative joint disease of the right index finger.,Degenerative joint disease of the right middle finger is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran sustained an injury to his teeth during service, which resulted in dental trauma. His right index and middle fingers have degenerative joint disease that has been rated separately under Code 5229.
- Claimed conditions
- Dental Trauma, Degenerative Joint Disease (Right Middle Finger), Degenerative Joint Disease (Right Index Finger)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 6, 2018
- Citation
- 18147664
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 18147664.
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's dental trauma is not rated higher than noncompensable.,Prior to December 3, 2020, the Veteran's tension headaches are not rated higher than 30 percent.,Beginning December 3, 2020, the Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50 percent.
- Denied
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for TBI and headaches. The service connection claims for dental trauma, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.
- Denied
The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and dental trauma. However, the Veteran's claims are denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability or etiology of his claimed conditions.
- Denied
The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for hearing loss or neurologic residuals of jaw fracture. For scars from concussion with occipital scalp laceration, the Board determined that the criteria for a 30 percent rating were met but not higher, and for painful scars from concussion with occipital scalp laceration, the criteria for a 10 percent rating were met but not higher.
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