The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) and a headache disability is denied. The effective date for the grant of a 50 percent rating for the headache disability is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder or a headache disability at any point during the period on appeal, and there was no factually ascertainable increase in his service-connected conditions within one year prior to his claim. The effective date for the 50 percent rating for the headache disability is denied as it occurred more than one year after the Veteran's initial claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), Headache
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- May 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20036741
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 20036741.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found new and relevant evidence to readjudicate the claim for service connection for a headache disability. The case is being remanded for further review.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected headache disability is remanded due to the lack of a proper VA examination, which may have influenced the initial decision.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headache disability, finding that his headaches began in service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, a headache disability as secondary to service-connected MS, and an eye disability as secondary to service-connected MS. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are supported by medical evidence, and the Board finds that they are related to her service-connected MS.
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