The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches but has remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine due to insufficient medical opinions and exposure basis.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neck disability is inadequate, requiring a new examination to consider all theories of entitlement including toxic exposure risk activities (TERA), herbicide agent exposure, and fine particulate matter exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- migraine headache, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 12, 2024
- Citation
- A24083066
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 A24083066.
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 dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for the migraine headache disability rating, as it was already granted from August 31, 2007. The issues of increased ratings for PTSD and major depressive disorder with TBI are remanded due to a duty to assist error in not obtaining SSA records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is remanded for further examination to determine the current severity of his condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches due to conflicting evidence and need for further clarification.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as migraine headaches, due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are related to active service or secondary to his lumbar spine condition. His migraine headaches are related to active service.
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