The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for bruxism and TMJ disorder, both secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's VA examiner was unable to provide a definitive opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions without resorting to speculation.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner could not definitively state whether the Veteran’s PTSD caused or aggravated her bruxism or whether her bruxism caused or aggravated her TMJ disorder, due to limitations in available data and information.
- Claimed conditions
- bruxism, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19144004
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 11, 2013, for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder based on new and material evidence constructively received within one year of the initial denial.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an increased rating for service-connected PTSD with bruxism, to include consideration of a separate rating for headaches, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder was dismissed due to a claims processing error.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bruxism as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD, anxious distress, and frequent panic episodes.
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