The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected sleep bruxism, a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condition.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's interincisal range of motion was limited to 30-34 millimeters with dietary restrictions to soft and semi-solid foods, which did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 9905.
- Claimed conditions
- sleep bruxism, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25050680
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a temporomandibular joint condition, and tension headaches due to an incomplete record and the need for additional medical opinions.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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