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.
The deciding factor: There was a pre-decisional duty to assist error as the VA examiner did not address the Veteran's temporomandibular disorder, which would be more advantageous to the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- jaw disorder, temporomandibular disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 26, 2026
- Citation
- A26027680
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26027680.
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 Board dismissed the appeals of claims for higher ratings for temporomandibular disorder and loss of teeth, as well as claims for service connection for scars on the left and right hips. The claim for an initial compensable rating for paresthesia of the midline to lower right jaw is remanded.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disability is denied as there is no persuasive evidence of any current disabilities such as chronic osteomyelitis or osteoradionecrosis, loss of whole or part of the mandible, nonunion or malunion of the mandible, temporomandibular disorder, loss of whole or part of the ramus, loss of whole or part of the maxilla, nonunion or malunion of the maxilla, loss of the condyloid or coronoid process, or loss of any part of the hard palate.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied, except for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability which were granted. The veteran was also granted service connection for hypertension.
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