The Board found that the Veteran's conditions, including failed craniotomy with skull deformity, headaches, diplopia, and benign positional vertigo, did not have onset in or are otherwise related to his active duty service from March 2003 to March 2004. The pre-existing conditions were aggravated by post-operative complications but not worsened beyond their natural progression.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran's conditions existed prior to his active duty service and were not aggravated during such service.
- Claimed conditions
- failed craniotomy with skull deformity, headaches, benign positional vertigo (dizziness), diplopia (left eye muscle damage), bone pain, nerve pain
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2013
- Citation
- 1334825
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 1334825.
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.
- 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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