Yes, you can and should reclaim, as your fractured molar is a clear dental injury directly incurred during service, and its current status as a restored tooth does not negate the initial in-service event. Service connection for a dental disability requires evidence of an injury or disease incurred during service (38 CFR 3.303). Your key is establishing that the fracture itself occurred in service, which you have done, and then demonstrating a current disability. The VA often incorrectly denies such claims by conflating eligibility for *treatment* (governed by 38 CFR 3.381 and 38 CFR 17.161) with eligibility for *compensation*. A fractured tooth with a permanent restoration is a current disability if it causes functional impairment or pain, or if it requires ongoing maintenance or carries a future prognosis of loss. You should be rated under Diagnostic Code 9910 (Loss of teeth, traumatic) or 9913 (Tooth, fractured), with a non-compensable 0% rating being a common outcome if the crown is fully successful, but this establishes service connection for potential future complications. Your actionable next steps are to: 1) File a supplemental claim with new and relevant evidence, specifically a current dental exam/note explicitly linking your crowned molar to the in-service fracture and describing any residual symptoms, functional limitations (e.g., difficulty chewing), or future prognosis (e.g., risk of root canal or extraction). 2) Clearly argue in a personal statement that you are claiming the dental *injury* for compensation, not seeking routine dental care. Cite the principle from *DeLuca v. Brown* that the VA must consider the functional impairment of a disability. If denied again, consider appealing to a Higher-Level Review to have a senior adjudicator correct this legal error.
*Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes regarding VA claims processes and is not intended as legal or medical advice. For guidance on your specific claim, consult an accredited VA attorney or claims agent.*
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