The Veteran's cluster headaches are currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, which is the highest available. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.,For the period prior to January 11, 2022, the Veteran's residual scar of the left ear was rated as noncompensable due to its size and lack of characteristics of disfigurement or other disabling effects. As of January 11, 2022, a rating of 10 percent is granted for this condition.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's cluster headaches are rated based on the criteria in DC 8100, which does not contemplate symptomatology that would warrant an increased rating. The Board finds his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For the scar of the left ear, the evidence shows it is painful and tender but does not have characteristics of disfigurement or other disabling effects as required by DC 7804.
- Claimed conditions
- Cluster Headaches, Residual Scar of the Left Ear (status post excision of a cyst)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2023
- Citation
- 23000562
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,676 · Granted: 24% (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 23000562.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and irritable bowel syndrome, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Other claims were either denied or remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for GERD and a 50 percent evaluation for cluster headaches, but denied an increased rating for right foot plantar fasciitis. The Veteran was also granted a 10 percent evaluation for external hemorrhoids effective May 19, 2024.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected cluster headaches have been rated at 50 percent since March 14, 2011. The Board affirms this rating based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his ability to work.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected cluster headaches is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions. The Board will seek new medical opinions without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.
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