The Board granted service connection for somatoform pain disorder (claimed as depression) as secondary to the veteran's service-connected disability and increased the rating for chronic tension headaches from noncompensable to 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service-connected disabilities exacerbated his somatoform pain disorder, which was previously diagnosed.
- Claimed conditions
- somatoform pain disorder, chronic tension headaches
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- April 7, 2000
- Citation
- 0009345
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 0009345.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for chronic tension headaches but denied higher ratings for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, remanded claims for cervical strain, fibromyalgia, SLE, and TDIU.
- Dismissed
The veteran's appeals for service connection for joint pain, a right elbow disability, and chronic tension headaches were dismissed as untimely.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent for chronic tension headaches but remanded the claim for service connection for sleep disturbances.
- Dismissed
The appeal for earlier effective dates for the disability ratings of chronic tension headaches and diabetic neuropathy was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.
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