The Veteran's initial compensable rating for posttraumatic headaches and a rating in excess of 10 percent for traumatic brain injury were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for these ratings, as the Veteran did not have characteristic prostrating attacks or severe economic inadaptability.
The deciding factor: The VA examination findings did not indicate that the Veteran experienced characteristic prostrating headaches, and his symptoms did not warrant a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 8100. For traumatic brain injury, the evidence did not meet the criteria for cognitive impairment at any level, as there were no complaints of impaired consciousness or other severe impairments.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic headaches, Traumatic brain injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 1, 2019
- Citation
- A19000781
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,960 · Granted: 36% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A19000781.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's initial claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a brain hemorrhage was denied. The reduction of the rating for service-connected lumbar spine disability from 40 percent to 20 percent effective April 8, 2015, and the reduction of the rating for service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) from 40 percent to 10 percent effective April 8, 2015, were granted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 10, 2010, for the award of special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance due to residuals of traumatic brain injury under 38 U.S.C. 1114(t) is granted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's initial 30 percent disability rating for posttraumatic headaches is granted, while his request for a higher rating for PTSD with TBI remains denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied an increased rating for right knee patellar tendinitis and has remanded the issue of service connection for a traumatic brain injury.
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