The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and new evidence, including a November 2003 neurologist's statement suggesting complicated migraines.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not address the November 2003 record which suggested complicated migraines in November 2003, and provided no explanation for her conclusions regarding the nature of the Veteran's headaches.
- Claimed conditions
- headaches (claimed as migraines)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20000854
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 issue of service connection for headaches (claimed as migraines) to correct pre-decisional errors, including a lack of adequate medical opinion and consideration of pre-existing conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for headaches (claimed as migraines) because the Veteran does not have a qualifying current disability. The evidence indicates that the headache symptoms were a side effect of medication and not an independent disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals for service connection for headaches and an increased rating for hearing loss, as well as his claims for bilateral hip and knee disabilities. The AOJ is directed to complete further development including obtaining updated VA treatment records, requesting private care providers to provide evidence, scheduling a VA examination, and readjudicating the claims.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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