The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for headaches was denied as there was no evidence of sustained and material improvement.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy was denied as the evidence did not show severe incomplete paralysis, warranting a higher rating.,The reduction in the disability rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy from 40 percent to 20 percent was upheld.
The deciding factor: The Veteran failed to show good cause for failing to report to a VA examination for headaches and his claim for an increased rating was denied.,The evidence did not demonstrate severe incomplete paralysis or complete paralysis of the right upper extremity, warranting a higher rating. The symptoms were moderate.,There was no evidence showing sustained improvement in left upper extremity radiculopathy that would justify reducing the disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- headaches, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19101830
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,911 · Granted: 10% (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 19101830.
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 Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was reopened due to new and material evidence, and the Board found that his current headaches are related to service. Service connection is granted.
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