The Veteran's headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by service and are not secondary to a service-connected disability. The Veteran's PTSD with depression and cannabis abuse is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that an evaluation in excess of 50 percent is warranted.
The deciding factor: The May 2012 VA examination report found no relationship between the Veteran's headaches and his service-connected PTSD. Additionally, the medical evidence shows a material change in the Veteran's PTSD symptoms since the last VA examination in January 2012.
- Claimed conditions
- headaches, PTSD with secondary depression and cannabis abuse
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- May 18, 2016
- Citation
- 1620186
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 1620186.
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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