The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for benign essential tremors, the maximum schedular rating available.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the veteran's condition is manifested by mild to moderate tremor of the upper extremities, which most closely approximates the criteria for a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 8512. The Board has resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- Benign Essential Tremors
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 4, 2006
- Citation
- 0623395
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,242 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0623395.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a VA examination and medical opinion are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's tremor disability, as there was no such examination or opinion in the original decision. The claim is therefore being remanded for this purpose.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's benign tremors, including whether it is related to service or herbicide exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for benign essential tremors and heart disability due to herbicide exposure, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. A VA medical opinion will be obtained.
- Denied
The Veteran's benign essential tremors are currently rated at a combined 40 percent, effective May 27, 2011. The Board denied the claim for increased ratings as his condition is analogous to mild incomplete paralysis of the upper extremities.
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