The Veteran's headaches are currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under VA's schedular guidelines.,The Veteran's bilateral visual field defects are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board notes that his vision is better than 20/40 in each eye and does not warrant a higher rating based on visual acuity alone, but the remaining visual fields do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's schedular guidelines.,The Veteran’s posterior head numbness residuals are currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that an examination is necessary to determine if there is any compensable symptomatology or impairment due to this condition.,The Veteran's right temporal/occipital stroke residuals are currently rated as 0 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a VA examination is necessary to assess these residuals separately from his service-connected basilar tip aneurysm symptoms.,The Veteran’s TDIU rating claim is remanded due to its inextricability with the other issues.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's headaches do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under VA's schedular guidelines, as they are not characterized by prostrating attacks occurring on an average once per month.,The Veteran’s bilateral visual field defects do not warrant a higher rating based on visual acuity alone. The remaining visual fields do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's schedular guidelines.,An examination is necessary to determine if there are any compensable symptomatology or impairment due to the Veteran’s posterior head numbness residuals.,A VA examination is necessary to assess the Veteran's right temporal/occipital stroke residuals separately from his service-connected basilar tip aneurysm symptoms.,The TDIU rating claim is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.
- Claimed conditions
- Headaches, Bilateral visual field defects, left homonymous quadrantanopsia, Posterior head numbness residuals of basilar tip aneurysm, Right temporal/occipital stroke
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 1, 2018
- Citation
- 18122890
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18122890.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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 denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of persistent daytime hypersomnolence or other manifestations consistent with a compensable disability rating under the criteria established by Diagnostic Codes. The matter is remanded to obtain additional information from the Veteran regarding his headaches and their impact on his daily life.
- Granted
The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to PTSD, but his headaches are denied due to lack of service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's headaches, which manifested as very frequent and prolonged attacks causing severe economic inadaptability, are granted a 50 percent disability rating for the entire period on appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 30 percent disability rating for his service-connected headaches, which was awarded with a noncompensable rating at 0 percent. The Board is remanding the claim due to inadequate examination and the need for a new VA examination to evaluate the severity of the Veteran's headaches without considering the ameliorating effects of any medication.
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