The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's TMJ dysfunction. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an opinion from a specialist, considering the Veteran's service history and his contention that his ear pain started during service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner was unable to provide a definitive opinion without resorting to speculation due to insufficient information in the record regarding the etiology of the TMJ dysfunction.
- Claimed conditions
- TMJ dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19160416
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 19160416.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied an effective date earlier than August 29, 2022, for the award of service connection for TMJ dysfunction.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to a finding of a duty to assist error related to the claim for service connection for depression, and the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.
- Partly granted
The appeal was granted for a timely notice of disagreement with the effective date of service connection for PTSD, and new and material evidence was found to reopen claims for left ear hearing loss and asthma. However, other claims were denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and obtaining an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's TMJ dysfunction.
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