The Veteran's headaches are related to his service-connected PTSD, and the Board finds that he has a current respiratory disorder due to his longstanding smoking history. The appeal for service connection for these conditions is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's headaches are secondary to his service-connected PTSD, as evidenced by his statements and medical records indicating they began after starting Zoloft for PTSD treatment.
- Claimed conditions
- headache disorder, respiratory disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2017
- Citation
- 1747912
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 1747912.
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 has determined that the claims for service connection must be remanded due to inadequate examinations and opinions. The Veteran's skin disorder, respiratory disorder, Crohn's disease, eye disorder, and migraines are all being reviewed again with new medical evaluations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disorder and headache disorder, and thus these claims are remanded for readjudication.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for persistent depressive disorder has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for conjunctivitis and headache disorder, both of which are directly related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of proper medical opinions and procedural errors in obtaining those opinions.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.