The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation prior to April 17, 2013 was denied as his interincisal range of motion remained within the 21 to 29 millimeters range and he could consume soft foods.,A 40 percent rating was granted effective April 17, 2013 due to limited interincisal motion between 11 and 20 millimeters and dietary restrictions to soft and semi-soft foods. The Veteran's condition warranted this evaluation as of that date.,The claim for a higher evaluation since April 17, 2013 was denied as his interincisal range of motion did not reach the level where it would warrant an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's interincisal range of motion remained within the 21 to 29 millimeters range prior to April 17, 2013 and he could consume soft foods. As of that date, his interincisal range of motion was limited between 11 and 20 millimeters with dietary restrictions to soft and semi-soft foods.
- Claimed conditions
- fractured mandible, left temporal mandibular joint disorder, left condylar head arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20007100
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,987 · Granted: 15% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20007100.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's service-connected residuals of fractured mandible do not warrant a rating in excess of 0 percent, and the claim for an increased rating is denied. The cervical spine fracture issue is remanded due to incomplete examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disability is denied as there is no evidence of loss of substance of the maxilla or mandible due to an in-service injury, and compensation is not available for treatable carious teeth.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's initial rating for residuals from a fractured mandible was granted at 40 percent, effective October 30, 2018. The appeal is denied for an initial rating higher than 40 percent for the entirety of the appeal period.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's left wrist injury and fractured mandible are granted service connection, with the Board finding in favor of a grant for the left wrist condition. The case is remanded for further development regarding the rating for the mandible fracture.
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