BVA decisions by condition
Temporomandibular joint (tmj) disorder: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a temporomandibular joint (tmj) disorder issue in 2,364 decisions. It granted the temporomandibular joint (tmj) disorder issue in 21.5% of them, above the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 34.3%, and remanded it in 42.9%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 38.5% were granted.
Decisions
2,364
2017–2026
Granted
21.5%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
38.5%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
42.9%
Denied: 34.3%
Temporomandibular joint (tmj) disorder outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 148 | 12.8% | 35.1% | 43.9% |
| 2018 | 220 | 18.6% | 31.8% | 44.5% |
| 2019 | 255 | 18.8% | 35.7% | 42.7% |
| 2020 | 253 | 20.2% | 36.0% | 44.3% |
| 2021 | 227 | 19.4% | 33.0% | 47.1% |
| 2022 | 223 | 21.1% | 30.9% | 46.6% |
| 2023 | 291 | 21.6% | 28.9% | 50.5% |
| 2024 | 291 | 21.6% | 36.4% | 40.9% |
| 2025 | 307 | 27.7% | 39.4% | 34.9% |
| 2026 | 149 | 31.5% | 35.6% | 30.9% |
Evidence in granted and denied temporomandibular joint (tmj) disorder decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the temporomandibular joint (tmj) disorder issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 375 | 72.4% | 29.2% | +43.2 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 347 | 66.4% | 31.6% | +34.8 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 385 | 64.2% | 34.9% | +29.3 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 664 | 51.0% | 32.7% | +18.3 pts |
| Combat service | 111 | 53.4% | 37.8% | +15.7 pts |
| Lay statement | 1,927 | 39.5% | 33.2% | +6.3 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 63.6% of the decisions that granted temporomandibular joint (tmj) disorder.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 37.4% of grants and 13.1% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often temporomandibular joint (tmj) disorder was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 1,036 | 40.6% | 36.9% | +3.7 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 1,726 | 37.3% | 43.0% | −5.7 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied temporomandibular joint (tmj) disorder
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established66
- Caused by the service-connected disability21
- Criteria for service connection met9
- Service connection established8
- Criteria for 10 percent rating met4
- Already at the maximum schedular rating4
- Aggravated by the service-connected disability4
- Current tmj diagnosis3
Most common reasons in denials
- No current diagnosis89
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim69
- Service records negative or silent44
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis35
- Current diagnosis established31
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service28
- Criteria for service connection not met11
- Did not meet criteria for higher rating8
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent temporomandibular joint (tmj) disorder decisions
Granted
Criteria for service connection met.
Interincisal range of 21-29 mm.; Dietary restrictions to soft and semi-solid foods.; 30% rating criteria met.
Benefit of the doubt afforded for 20% rating from Dec 19, 2019; Prior version of DC 9905 applied; Limitations did not warrant higher rating
Denied
No evidence VA recommended private dental procedure; No evidence VA care proximately caused disability; Private care under contract excluded from § 1151 benefits
Evidence weighed against claim for higher rating prior to Dec 19, 2019; Limitations did not meet criteria for higher rating under prior DC 9905; No basis for higher rating based on pain or other symptoms
Evidence did not support rating higher than 20 percent; Interincisal range and lateral excursion measurements did not meet higher criteria; No physician-recorded or verified texture-modified diet
Rules that apply to temporomandibular joint (tmj) disorder claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your temporomandibular joint (tmj) disorder case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a temporomandibular joint (tmj) disorder issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.