The Board has granted service connection for syncope but denied service connection for head injury. The right ankle traumatic arthritis remains at a 10% rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's syncope is found to be related to his service, while there is no current diagnosis of a head injury or its residuals.
- Claimed conditions
- syncope, head injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20028515
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20028515.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of chest pain, ear condition, vaginosis, syncope, thyroid condition, and jaw condition have been dismissed due to non-jurisdictional procedural defects. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection on the issues of occipital neuralgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for further development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for right finger amputations and denied increased ratings for a back disability and syncope, finding that the evidence does not support a conclusion that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected syncope.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error in obtaining missing service treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain these records and conduct any necessary development, including VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including epilepsy, prostate cancer, and lumbar DDD, necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance from his spouse. The Board has granted SMC based on this need.
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