Citation Nr: 21026397 Decision Date: 05/03/21 Archive Date: 05/03/21 DOCKET NO. 16-31 238 DATE: May 3, 2021 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for a dental condition for VA compensation purposes is denied. FINDING OF FACT The Veteran's dental condition resulted from trauma during service but does not involve loss of the substance of the body of the maxilla or mandible. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for entitlement to service connection for a dental condition have not been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1111, 1131, 5107(b); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303(a), 4.150. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty from January 1961 to January 1963. The Veteran died in January 2021; the appellant is his surviving spouse and is the substituted claimant. Entitlement to service connection for a dental condition for VA compensation purposes During his lifetime, the Veteran sought entitlement to service connection for a dental disability for compensation purposes. The Board finds that service connection is not warranted, and the claim is denied. The dental conditions for which service-connected compensation benefits are available are set forth under 38 C.F.R. § 4.150, Diagnostic Codes 9900-9916. Compensation is only available for certain types of dental and oral conditions, such as impairment of the mandible, loss of a portion of the ramus, and loss of a portion of the maxilla. Treatable carious teeth, replaceable missing teeth, dental or alveolar abscesses, and periodontal disease are not compensable disabilities, but may be considered service connected solely for the purpose of establishing eligibility for outpatient dental treatment. 38 U.S.C. § 1712; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.381, 4.150. The Veteran's service treatment records (STRs) show that during his entrance examination in June 1960, it was noted that the Veteran had rampant dental caries listed as a defect upon entrance to active duty. It is also noted that the Veteran had several dental procedures during his active duty. At his March 2019 Board hearing, the Veteran testified that he was bumped while drinking from a water fountain and that resulted in trauma to his "front teeth" requiring a subsequent root canal during service. He also testified that eventually the teeth became discolored and he "lost them." Pursuant to the July 2019 Board remand, the Veteran was given a VA examination in January 2020. The examiner considered the Veteran's report of the inservice incident in service where he suffered a mouth injury resulted in root canal treatment. His inservice dental records document that treatment was performed on anterior teeth 6, 7, 8, 9 and it was likely the result of dental trauma. However, the examiner also opined that the Veteran did not have a loss of body of maxilla or mandible. There is no evidence that the inservice dental trauma resulted in disability manifested by loss of body of maxilla or mandible. Under 38 C.F.R. § 4,150, Diagnostic Codes 9900-916 as discussed above, the evidence of record, in particular the January 2020 VA examination, indicates that the Veteran did not have a dental disability for which service connection can be granted. Based on the foregoing, the Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran and he did not experience a compensable dental condition due to any in-service dental trauma or disease. Thus, service connection may not be established for compensation purpose for missing or damaged teeth, or periodontal disease under 38 C.F.R. § 4.150. M.E. Larkin Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board M. G. Perkins, Counsel The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.