The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches have been granted an initial 30 percent disability rating, but no higher. The issue of service connection for joint and muscle pain is remanded.
The deciding factor: The VA examination was inadequate as it did not address the prior June 2018 VA gulf war examiner's determination that symptoms regarding joint and muscles are due to individual joint diagnosis as well as the Veteran's prescription medication for muscle spasms.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Headaches, Joint and Muscle Pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2024
- Citation
- A24059092
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 A24059092.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic headaches have been rated at a 50 percent evaluation, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100 for very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for posttraumatic headaches was denied. The Board dismissed the claims for TDIU and SMC due to service-connected posttraumatic headaches as it did not have jurisdiction over these issues.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing (SAH) or special home adaptation (SHA) grant due to his respiratory disability, which is presumed by the PACT Act. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a permanent and total disability resulting in anatomical loss of use of both hands, burns, or residuals of an inhalational injury.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for posttraumatic headaches from February 10, 2020.
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.