The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate statement of reasons or bases in the February 2019 decision, and a need for a VA dental examination to determine if the removal of impacted teeth was treatment of a pre-existing condition. The AOJ must also secure a copy of the August 2014 VAMC dental denial and include a copy of 38 C.F.R. § 17.161 in any Supplemental Statement of the Case.
The deciding factor: The Board's February 2019 decision failed to identify the independent medical evidence on which it relied for its determinations, particularly regarding whether the removal of impacted teeth was treatment of a pre-existing condition or due to additional disease or pathology that developed after 180 days or more of service.
- Claimed conditions
- noncompensable dental condition (dentures / extracted teeth)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 9, 2019
- Citation
- 19192289
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 19192289.
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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