The Board remands the issue of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for tension headaches due to a duty to assist error.
The deciding factor: The August 2018 VA examiner did not comment on the ameliorative effects of the Veteran's medication, which must be considered when evaluating the nature and severity of his headaches.
- Claimed conditions
- tension headaches (headaches)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25048433
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 Board granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent for tension headaches, effective December 3, 2015.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tension headaches to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including an inadequate VA examination and nexus opinions.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.