The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting a compensable rating for the left ankle fracture, and also found no nexus between the current TMJ disorder and in-service jaw injuries.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show ankylosis or malunion of the os calcis or astragalus with moderate deformity for the left ankle fracture. The Board also determined that there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between the current TMJ disorder and in-service jaw injuries, as the symptoms were not shown to be chronic in service.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a left ankle fracture, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19188949
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,162 · Granted: 21% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19188949.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual employability (TDIU) and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is granted with an effective date of April 5, 2021.,The TDIU was initially raised during the adjudication process of the underlying claim for service connection for TMJ.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including TMJ, a bilateral feet disability, erectile dysfunction, GERD, hearing loss, sleep apnea, and IBS. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.
- Denied
The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 8511.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 8511.,The Veteran's TMJ disorder is currently rated at 20 percent.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims were granted effective from May 6, 2020. His SMC claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not affect his ability to work.
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