The Board has granted service connection for a headache condition and residuals of traumatic brain injury, finding that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise that these conditions represent undiagnosed illnesses or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses without clear etiology.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's headaches and TBI symptoms are manifestations of an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, as they meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 U.S.C. § 1117.
- Claimed conditions
- Headache condition, Residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2023
- Citation
- 23001270
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 880 · Granted: 26% (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 23001270.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining records from the Lancaster Vet Center and private mental health professionals.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for PTSD and TBI residuals from 70% to 70%, effective October 28, 2020. The reduction was improper due to a lack of evidence demonstrating improvement in the Veteran's condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and TBI residuals are currently rated at 70 percent, effective February 14, 2019. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and a headache condition, finding that her symptoms began during and have continued since service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.