The Veteran's residuals of right parotidectomy, including cranial nerve dysfunction to V, VII, XI, weakened muscles of the right side of face and neck with altered sensation and pain stemming from nerve damage or injury; xerostomia; right postauricular scar, and dry eye syndrome, are not proximately due to or the result of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in furnishing reasonable care.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's residuals were found to be less likely than not caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA personnel.
- Claimed conditions
- Facial nerve dysfunction, Weakness of muscles on right side of face and neck, Altered sensation and pain stemming from nerve damage or injury, Xerostomia (dry mouth), Right postauricular scar, Dry eye syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 15, 2026
- Citation
- 26000560
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 26000560.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Veteran's post-operative cataracts with pseudophakia and vitreous degeneration are rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the August 2024 rating decision. The separate rating for dry eye syndrome is also granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current eye disabilities are related to service or preexisted with no superimposed injury during service. The VA must obtain a supplemental opinion from an appropriately qualified examiner.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for moderate chronic bilateral dry eye syndrome and a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings, but also noted errors in obtaining relevant private treatment records and remanded to obtain these records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several claims due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including for new VA medical opinions on right wrist and knee conditions, right foot condition, right ankle condition, erectile dysfunction, GERD, headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, dry eye syndrome, lumbar spine condition, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
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