The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected cluster headaches, which may warrant a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran reported worsening headache symptoms and provided evidence suggesting an increase in frequency and intensity. The Board found that a new examination was necessary to determine if the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Cluster Headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19145008
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 remands the claim for a new examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected cluster headaches without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's application to reopen her sleep apnea claim is granted, and she is entitled to an effective date prior to October 31, 2015 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Board finds that a VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of her sleep apnea and assesses the current severity of her PTSD, cluster headaches, right foot heel spur, left ankle sprain with heel spurs, and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% from June 30, 2016. The decision on Cluster Headaches and TDIU remains pending.
- Granted
The Veteran's cluster headaches, RLE radiculopathy, and GERD have been granted increased ratings of 30 percent each. The effective date is not specified.
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