The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity (LUE), and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity due to new evidence received since the final denial in June 2015. The claims are remanded to obtain addendum opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's STRs show she was treated for recurrent headaches during service, and her current migraine headache disorder is less likely due to her service-connected fibromyalgia. However, a new VA examiner opinion is needed to address whether the Veteran's migraine headache disorder clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service or is caused by her service-connected fibromyalgia.
- Claimed conditions
- migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity (LUE), carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity (RUE)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 1, 2023
- Citation
- 23041956
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 23041956.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between service, including a stick injury in England, and current left eye disability (including amblyopia and cataracts) as well as migraine headaches.
- Granted
The Veteran's OSA is granted as service connected. The Veteran's infectious disease claim and stomach disability claim are remanded for further examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's migraine headaches are productive of very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks capable of producing severe economic inadaptability. The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches.
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