The Veteran's Bell’s palsy and headaches have been granted service connection, with a 70% rating for major depression with generalized anxiety disorder effective February 16, 2016.,An earlier effective date of February 16, 2016, has also been granted for the grant of service connection for major depression.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's Bell’s palsy and headaches are considered to be directly related to his service-connected facial scars. The private examiner provided a credible opinion linking these conditions to his in-service surgery.,The Veteran's major depression with generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by significant occupational and social impairment, warranting the highest available rating of 70%.
- Claimed conditions
- Bell’s palsy, headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- April 8, 2021
- Citation
- 21020863
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 21020863.
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.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was reopened due to new and material evidence, and the Board found that his current headaches are related to service. Service connection is granted.
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