The Board remands the claim for service connection for common headaches to obtain a more adequate medical opinion regarding whether the condition was aggravated by service.
The deciding factor: The previous VA examiner's opinion is inadequate because it relied on an absence of evidence, which does not meet the 'clear and unmistakable' standard required to rebut the presumption of aggravation.
- Claimed conditions
- common headaches
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25031333
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted separate ratings for the Veteran's right knee and common headache conditions but denied an increased rating for his right knee strain, limitation of extension.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for common headaches as the evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between the post-service diagnosis and service, including due to TERA exposure.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 29, 2024, for the award of increased ratings for cervical strain, right shoulder strain, bilateral pes planus with bilateral metatarsalgia, left knee strain, and common headaches.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for common headaches to obtain a more adequate medical opinion.
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