The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disability, hernia disability, and ratings in excess of 10 percent disabling prior to June 21, 2019, and in excess of 20 percent disabling thereafter for service-connected cervical spine degenerative changes.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran's headaches or hernias were causally related to his service or any service-connected disability, nor was there sufficient evidence to support a finding of aggravation by a service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Headache disability, Hernia disability (inguinal, hiatal, and epigastric)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2025
- Citation
- 25005214
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a separate 50 percent initial rating for insomnia as secondary to tinnitus, and denied an increased rating for tinnitus. The Board also granted service connection for headache disability, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for pancreatic cancer with cholangitis under the PACT Act, and for right and left upper and lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to pancreatic cancer. The claims for a headache disability and obstructive sleep apnea were denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities and a TDIU due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.
- Partly granted
The appeal was withdrawn and dismissed for hearing loss, a headache disability, joint pain, memory loss, and fatigue. Tinnitus was granted due to service connection. Other issues were remanded.
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