The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cluster headaches, bilateral optic atrophy, and loss of visual fields as secondary to service-connected bilateral optic atrophy are denied. The initial disability rating for cluster headaches is not greater than 10 percent, the initial disability rating for bilateral optic atrophy is not greater than 90 percent, and the initial disability ratings for loss of visual fields are not greater than 20 or 30 percent as of December 10, 2008 and August 14, 2010 respectively.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a higher rating for any of the conditions based on the current level of severity.
- Claimed conditions
- Cluster Headaches, Bilateral Optic Atrophy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 22, 2011
- Citation
- 1123690
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 1123690.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and irritable bowel syndrome, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Other claims were either denied or remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for GERD and a 50 percent evaluation for cluster headaches, but denied an increased rating for right foot plantar fasciitis. The Veteran was also granted a 10 percent evaluation for external hemorrhoids effective May 19, 2024.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected cluster headaches have been rated at 50 percent since March 14, 2011. The Board affirms this rating based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his ability to work.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected cluster headaches is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions. The Board will seek new medical opinions without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.
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