The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased rating claim for left TMJ disorder due to insufficient examination findings and incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected condition, including any flare-ups and functional loss. Additionally, all outstanding VA treatment records need to be obtained.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the January 2019 VA examination report was deficient in describing the frequency, duration, characteristics, severity, and functional loss due to flare-ups of the left TMJ disorder. The examiner also did not provide a retrospective medical opinion addressing any changes in the severity of the condition since May 2010.
- Claimed conditions
- left temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19164806
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 19164806.
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
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