The Veteran's claims for left eye lagophthalmos, bilateral dry eye syndrome, and left epiphora were granted with a separate 10% rating. Separate ratings of 20%, 30%, and 20% were assigned for severe incomplete paralysis of the right fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal), severe incomplete paralysis of the left fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal), and severe incomplete paralysis of the right seventh cranial nerve (facial) respectively. The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted based on direct evidence.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence supported the Veteran’s diagnoses and ratings, with no new or material evidence presented to reopen his claims.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Dry Eye Syndrome, Left Epiphora, Left Eye (Unilateral) Lagophthalmos, Severe Incomplete Paralysis of the Left Fifth Cranial Nerve (Trigeminal), Severe Incomplete Paralysis of the Left Seventh Cranial Nerve (Facial), Severe Incomplete Paralysis of the Right Fifth Cranial Nerve (Trigeminal), Severe Incomplete Paralysis of the Right Seventh Cranial Nerve (Facial)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19191735
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,062 · Granted: 34% (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 19191735.
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.
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The Veteran's hyperthyroidism with bilateral dry eye syndrome is granted an initial 20 percent rating. A separate 30 percent rating for a thyroidectomy scar is also granted.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for urinary incontinence, anterior prolapse (cystocele), and bilateral dry eye syndrome with a 20% disability rating. The effective date of July 7, 2017 is also granted for the service-connected bilateral dry eye syndrome.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected back disability is being remanded to the AOJ for further action.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral conjunctivitis with a history of dry eye syndrome is rated at 10 percent from March 4, 2019. A separate and compensable rating of 20 percent for bilateral dry eye syndrome is granted. The Veteran's entitlement to increased ratings for IVDS remains pending.
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