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
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 21075534.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's trigeminal neuralgia is rated at a 10 percent disability rating, effective from August 1, 2023.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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