The Veteran's claims for service connection for temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) and dental treatment for deterioration of teeth have been denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
The deciding factor: There is no current diagnosis of TMJ, and the Veteran does not have a compensable service-connected dental disability. The dental issues are likely due to bruxism (teeth grinding) rather than a service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), dental treatment for deterioration of teeth
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19138965
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,088 · Granted: 33% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19138965.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gonococcal urethritis and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) as these conditions are found to have been incurred during active military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for gynecological disorders, residuals of skin infection, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction. The claims for breast augmentation surgery and cervical rib were withdrawn from appeal.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for broken jaw/TMJ, motion sickness, right knee pain, right shin pain, left ankle pain, bilateral pes planus, and left buttock pain as there is no evidence of current disabilities.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his attorney, and the Board is dismissing the case.
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