The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches associated with residuals of TBI was granted, effective June 29, 2002.,For the period prior to May 29, 2014, a rating of 70 percent for mood disorder due to TBI was granted.,TDIU benefits were granted from July 1, 2009 to May 28, 2014.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating for mechanical back pain prior to May 28, 2014 remains pending and requires further evidence.,A compensable rating (10 percent) was granted for residuals of TBI including subjective impairment of the left side.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's headaches began during service and his claim was received within one year of separation, meeting the criteria for an effective date of June 29, 2002.
- Claimed conditions
- Headaches, Mood Disorder (associated with a Traumatic Brain Injury), Mechanical Back Pain, Residuals of a Traumatic Brain Injury including subjective impairment of the left side
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19182504
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, headaches, a back disability, heart disability, and residuals of a stroke, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service or caused by his service-connected left ear disabilities.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal in September 2025, stating that she is now 100% permanently and totally disabled effective April 29, 2025.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with TBI and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for headaches as secondary to PTSD with TBI due to a duty to assist error.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and remanded the claims for a sleep disorder and headaches to ensure proper development of evidence.
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