The Board finds that the veteran's abdominal muscle strain and headaches, including as due to an undiagnosed illness as a result of service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War, were incurred or aggravated by his active duty. Service connection is granted for these conditions.
The deciding factor: The veteran had complaints of lower abdominal pain and headaches prior to his second period of active duty, which resolved with treatment. During his first period of active duty (1982-1985), there were no reported or documented headaches. However, during his second period of active duty (2003-2004), the veteran complained of and was treated for headaches. The VA examiner noted that the veteran had a history of frequent or severe headaches prior to service but did not note any current pathology.
- Claimed conditions
- abdominal muscle strain, headaches
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 9, 2008
- Citation
- 0834736
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0834736.
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
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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