The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and abdominal pain have been reopened. A higher 20 percent rating is granted for bilateral dry eye syndrome, but an earlier effective date is denied. A higher 40 percent rating is granted for lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's claims for service connection for breathing disorder and hernias are denied. Other issues related to increased ratings or service connection are remanded.
The deciding factor: The new evidence received supports reopening the claims of entitlement to service connection for headaches and abdominal pain, leading to a higher rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome, but denying an earlier effective date due to lack of prior pending claims. The lumbosacral strain is rated at its highest permissible level.
- Claimed conditions
- Headaches, Abdominal Pain
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 6, 2022
- Citation
- 22000724
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,669 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 22000724.
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
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- Remanded (sent back)
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