The Veteran's headaches started during service and continued until his death. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's headaches had their onset in service, and grants service connection for headaches.,Regarding the acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder), the Board notes there are several diagnoses present. Adequate opinions have not been obtained that separately address each theory of entitlement and psychiatric disorder that the Veteran was diagnosed with during the period on appeal.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's headaches had their onset in service, and grants service connection for headaches.,Adequate opinions have not been obtained that separately address each theory of entitlement and psychiatric disorder that the Veteran was diagnosed with during the period on appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- Headaches, Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder), Low Back Condition, Bilateral Foot Condition (Pes Planus, Plantar Fasciitis), Bilateral Knee Condition, Laryngitis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Conjunctivitis, Dental Condition
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 18, 2021
- Citation
- 21063983
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 21063983.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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 denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of persistent daytime hypersomnolence or other manifestations consistent with a compensable disability rating under the criteria established by Diagnostic Codes. The matter is remanded to obtain additional information from the Veteran regarding his headaches and their impact on his daily life.
- Granted
The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to PTSD, but his headaches are denied due to lack of service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's headaches, which manifested as very frequent and prolonged attacks causing severe economic inadaptability, are granted a 50 percent disability rating for the entire period on appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for COPD due to duty-to-assist errors and a need for a supplemental medical opinion.
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