The veteran's in-service head injury has resulted in headaches, cognitive impairment, anxiety and difficulty sleeping. The current 30 percent disability rating is warranted for headaches due to brain trauma, but a higher rating is not warranted.
The deciding factor: The severity, duration, and frequency of the headaches did not seem to be worse than they had been in the past, as reported by Dr. L.G. during the May 2002 examination.
- Claimed conditions
- headaches, cognitive impairment, anxiety
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- February 18, 2009
- Citation
- 0905987
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an increased initial disability evaluation of headaches due to an inadequate VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for various acquired psychiatric disorders.
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