The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, as well as his claim for a higher rating for cephalgia (headaches). The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of dysthymic disorder or any other acquired psychiatric disorder. For cephalgia, the Board determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 30 percent or higher rating under DC 8100 due to insufficient evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims were denied as there was no current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, and his cephalgia did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 8100 due to insufficient evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder other than unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, Cephalgia (headaches)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2022
- Citation
- 22000151
Veterans Law Judge
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 22000151.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Partly granted
The Board denied higher ratings for PTSD and alcohol use disorder, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. However, service connection was granted for allergic rhinitis under the PACT Act.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's cephalgia (headaches) disability was initially service connected in May 2008 and rated as noncompensable. The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the condition, effective from August 1, 2020.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for residuals of traumatic brain injury prior to April 3, 2009 was denied. From that date onwards, the Veteran's TBI residuals were rated as noncompensable.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected conditions did not warrant a higher rating or additional service connection. The scar of the left parietal area of the scalp, while present, did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
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