The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected chronic cluster headaches, currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records and private medical records need to be obtained, a new VA examination is necessary, and the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) should be adjudicated.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim requires further development due to outstanding records and the need for an updated evaluation by a VA examiner.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic cluster headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 27, 2013
- Citation
- 1331231
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 1331231.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting decisions and motions from the Court. The Veteran's sole service-connected disability is chronic cluster headaches, which does not meet the criteria for schedular TDIU consideration. However, the Board finds that his headaches may have prevented him from being capable of obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected chronic cluster headaches are manifested by mild to severe headaches lasting for under one hour. Although frequent, the headaches do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they are not completely prostrating and prolonged or productive of severe economic inadaptability.
- Granted
The Veteran's chronic cluster headaches are currently rated at 50% effective from February 3, 2017. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted prior to this date and grants the increased rating claim. For TDIU, the Veteran has provided evidence of his disability preventing him from working since July 2009, which is within one year of his initial claim. Therefore, the effective date for TDIU is also granted as November 2010.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected chronic cluster headaches prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.
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