The Veteran's trigeminal neuralgia, right side, is rated at 30 percent for the entire period on appeal. The Board found that this level of disability approximates severe incomplete paralysis of the 5th (trigeminal) cranial nerve.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed constant severe facial pain with intermittent muscle spasms and paresthesias, resulting in moderate difficulty chewing and speaking during flare-ups, which is indicative of severe, but not complete, impairment of the right 5th cranial nerve.
- Claimed conditions
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 20, 2021
- Citation
- 21075534
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 21075534.
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 granted an initial rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's trigeminal neuralgia and a separate rating of 10 percent for his olfactory neuralgia, both based on their severity.
- Granted
The Veteran's trigeminal neuralgia is rated at a 10 percent disability rating, effective from August 1, 2023.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for trigeminal neuralgia, finding that it did not meet the criteria to establish service connection and was not a MUCMI.
- Denied
The Veteran's right side trigeminal neuralgia was found to be manifested by moderate incomplete paralysis of the fifth cranial nerve, but not severe. The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent.
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