The Veteran's headaches are currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's sliding hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux warrants a 10 percent rating based on symptoms such as pyrosis, reflux, regurgitation, and substernal pain. A higher rating is denied.,Service connection for the low back disability was previously denied in a final May 2008 decision. The claim has been reopened due to new evidence received since then.,PTSD was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus service connection is denied.,Chronic fatigue syndrome was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus service connection is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's headaches are rated under Diagnostic Code 8100, which requires very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The evidence shows the Veteran has multiple severe headaches per week lasting for hours each, but these symptoms do not indicate that his disability is exceptional or unusual.,The sliding hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux warrants a 10 percent rating based on symptoms such as pyrosis, reflux, regurgitation, and substernal pain. A higher rating is denied because the Veteran's symptoms are not productive of considerable impairment of health.,Service connection for the low back disability was previously denied in a final May 2008 decision. The claim has been reopened due to new evidence received since then.,PTSD was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus service connection is denied.,Chronic fatigue syndrome was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus service connection is denied.
- Claimed conditions
- headaches, sliding hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux, low back disability, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic fatigue syndrome
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23043560
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 23043560.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
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