The Board remands the claims for service connection for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder and an apical low-density lesion due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
The deciding factor: Remand is required to obtain dental treatment records from the University of Southern California and schedule a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, apical low-density lesion on tooth #14
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25035700
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder was dismissed due to a claims processing error.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for the claimed conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an increased rating for TMJ disorder and headaches, as well as the claim for an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits, to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the effects of medications on the severity of these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, depression, a temporomandibular joint disorder, and bruxism as the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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