The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches secondary to his cervical spine disability is granted. Other issues are remanded, and the effective date of TDIU is set prior to February 23, 2018.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tension and migraine headaches are caused or functionally worsened by his service-connected cervical spine disability, major depressive disorder, and other disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Headache (including tension headaches and migraines), Right upper extremity pain, tingling, and numbness, Left upper extremity radiculopathy, Major depressive disorder associated with thoracic spine strain, Cervical spine degenerative arthritis, Lumbosacral and thoracic spine strain, Right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, Total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 3, 2024
- Citation
- 24006142
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 24006142.
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.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a fungal infection of the feet, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and psychiatric condition due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability with left upper extremity radiculopathy, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition. The Board concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot because he already has a combined disability rating of 100%, qualifying for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for regular aid and attendance. The earlier effective date claim for DEA benefits is denied as the Veteran is already in receipt of the earliest possible date for the award.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
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