The Board has remanded the claims for gastrointestinal cancer and headache disorder due to insufficient evidence. The claim for service connection for gastrointestinal cancer on a direct basis is denied, while the claims for secondary service connection and headaches are being reviewed.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided do not sufficiently address whether the Veteran's current conditions may be related to his in-service injuries or exposures.
- Claimed conditions
- Headache disorder, Gastrointestinal cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 31, 2020
- Citation
- 20057154
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 20057154.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's left ankle disability and headache disorder secondary to PTSD with alcohol use disorder have been granted increased ratings, effective September 16, 2018.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's headache disorder is remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, headache disorder, and stroke residuals are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ needs to determine if the Veteran participated in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) during his honorable period of active service from March 1982 to September 1985 and obtain VA examinations for hypertension, stroke residuals, and headaches.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headache disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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