The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are caused or aggravated by his service-connected TBI and/or tinnitus. The RO is instructed to obtain private treatment records, provide a VA examiner with the claims file for an opinion on causation and aggravation of headaches, and then readjudicate the claim.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the December 2018 VA opinions were inadequate as they did not address whether the Veteran's headaches are caused by his service-connected TBI or tinnitus. The examiner was asked to determine if the Veteran’s headaches were at least as likely as not caused by and/or aggravated beyond its natural progression by his TBI and/or tinnitus.
- Claimed conditions
- headaches, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19149738
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 19149738.
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 service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of April 25, 2022, for the award of service connection for tinnitus and a 100 percent initial rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder.
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