The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for a jaw disorder, to include TMJ, should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his condition.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not adequately address whether the old fracture could be consistent with an injury during service and if it is as likely as not that the in-service injury caused or is related to the diagnosed TMJ.
- Claimed conditions
- jaw disorder, temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2021
- Citation
- 21007286
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 21007286.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines, finding that her headaches are aggravated by her service-connected TMJ disorder.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for his jaw disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a right leg disorder, jaw disorder, and headache disorder as secondary to a jaw disorder due to inadequate VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matters of entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for mechanical back pain syndrome with degenerative spondylolisthesis and service connection for temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ) to provide the Veteran with notice concerning his right to a hearing.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.