The Board has denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder and migraine headaches, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, PTSD, and alcohol dependence) and a sleep disorder are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
The deciding factor: The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current cervical spine disorder or migraine headaches to his active service.,VA’s duty to assist requires obtaining VA examinations for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a sleep disorder, as there is insufficient evidence in the record to adjudicate these claims.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Cervical Spine Disorder","claimed_conditions":["neck pain"]}, {"condition_name":"Migraine Headaches","claimed_conditions":["migraine headaches"]}, {"condition_name":"Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (to include Depression, PTSD, and Alcohol Dependence)","claimed_conditions":["depression","PTSD","alcohol dependence"]}, {"condition_name":"Sleep Disorder","claimed_conditions":["poor sleep"]}
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 15, 2019
- Citation
- A19001960
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.