The Veteran's headaches alone rendered him unemployable from March 9, 1994 to September 20, 2012. As he also had additional service-connected disabilities that when combined were independently ratable at 60 percent or more, the criteria for entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) were met from March 9, 1994 to September 20, 2012.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's headaches alone warranted a Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU), and when combined with other service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more, the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) were met.
- Claimed conditions
- headaches, carotid sinus syndrome, adult maladjustment disorder and psychoneurosis, conversion type, subacromial bursitis of the right shoulder with degenerative joint disease, chronic sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome, malaria
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- June 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20043525
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 20043525.
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.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was reopened due to new and material evidence, and the Board found that his current headaches are related to service. Service connection is granted.
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