The Board has determined that service connection for headaches is not warranted due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The claims for compensation for residuals of intracranial aneurysm, cerebral embolism with cerebral infarction, with non-rupture cerebral aneurysm (claimed as residuals of multiple strokes), right and left knee earlier effective date and increased ratings, unspecified depression initial increased rating claim, and TDIU are REMANDED for further action.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that headaches were incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's claims for compensation and increased ratings are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the earlier effective date claim for unspecified depression.
- Claimed conditions
- Headaches, Residuals of intracranial aneurysm, cerebral embolism with cerebral infarction, with non-rupture cerebral aneurysm (claimed as residuals of multiple strokes), Unspecified depression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 9, 2018
- Citation
- 18125231
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 18125231.
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 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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