The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for a headache disorder, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities, must be remanded due to inadequate examination and opinions.
The deciding factor: The 2022 VA examination and medical opinions were inadequate because they did not consider the Veteran's lay report of headaches during active service or his witness' testimony about the Veteran's behavior regarding headaches. The examiner also failed to address whether the newly service-connected sleep apnea may have caused or aggravated the headache disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- headache disorder (including migraines)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 2, 2023
- Citation
- 23042287
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 23042287.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include upper back strain, tinnitus, and a headache disorder.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's anemia, tinnitus, headache disorder (including migraines), mitral valve prolapse, and lower back disorder are not related to her active service. The claims for these conditions have been remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a headache disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not incurred or aggravated by active duty. Service connection for CML due to exposure to ionizing radiation was also denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and a headache disorder (including migraines) on the basis that these conditions were incurred in service.
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