The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and PTSD, is granted as secondary to a traumatic brain injury. The initial rating of 30 percent for posttraumatic headaches from July 30, 2009, is granted. However, the claim for a higher rating for posttraumatic headaches is denied.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence reached equipoise on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and post-traumatic headaches are related to service or service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Acquired Psychiatric Disorder","claimed_conditions":["Depressive Disorder","Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)"]}, {"condition_name":"Headaches","claimed_conditions":["Post-traumatic headaches"]}
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- August 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19162963
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 19162963.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his lung cancer was related to his service-connected melanoma.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for anxiety but denied it for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's sleep apnea was less likely than not related to his active service or service-connected acquired psychiatric condition.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches as proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.