The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a left latissimus dorsi injury and service connection for dental decay as secondary to adnexal carcinoma of the scalp was denied. The Board found that his current residuals did not meet criteria for higher ratings, and concluded that his dental decay is less likely than not due to radiation treatment for his cancer.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's dental decay is not related to radiation therapy used to treat his adnexal carcinoma of the scalp.
- Claimed conditions
- left latissimus dorsi injury, dental decay
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2023
- Citation
- 23052369
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 23052369.
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 dental decay, claimed as secondary to a psychiatric disability, should be remanded for further action due to insufficient rationale in the prior medical opinion and the need to obtain additional private treatment records.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for dental decay as secondary to a service-connected duodenal ulcer, finding that new and material evidence was not presented.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board is remanding the case to obtain VA dental records and a VA physician's opinion regarding whether dental treatment can be considered as adjunct to the Veteran's service-connected disability. The claim will then be readjudicated.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the veteran's dental disability, manifested by a history of dental decay and loss of teeth, is not a disability for which VA disability compensation is payable.
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