The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for TMJ was denied because she failed to attend her scheduled VA examination without good cause.
The deciding factor: The Veteran missed a scheduled VA examination, which is necessary to substantiate the claim due to conflicting medical evidence regarding whether she had a current diagnosis of TMJ and its etiology.
- Claimed conditions
- Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 26, 2020
- Citation
- 20021533
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 20021533.
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: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include insomnia and major depressive disorder with anxious distress, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability. The claim for an earlier effective date for TMJ was denied, as well as a higher initial rating for TMJ. The claims for service connection for left and right shoulder conditions were remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including allergic rhinitis, TMJ, cervical strain, and others, to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the April 2024 rating decision on appeal.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been received to readjudicate the claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, bilateral knee condition, back condition, irritable bowel syndrome, and temporomandibular joint syndrome. The claim of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is granted. The remaining claims are remanded due to a duty to assist error.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further consideration, including a determination on whether the Veteran was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities from March 6, 2015, to June 20, 2016.
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