The Veteran's tension headaches are granted as secondary to her service-connected thoracolumbar scoliosis, lumbar levoscoliosis, and thoracic disc herniations. However, the Board denied entitlement to a TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's tension headaches are related to her service-connected back disability, but does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that such relationship does not exist.
- Claimed conditions
- Tension Headaches, Thoracolumbar Scoliosis, Lumbar Levoscoliosis, Thoracic Disc Herniations
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- January 29, 2026
- Citation
- A26008790
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 A26008790.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 70 percent to 50 percent, effective February 20, 2025. The Board finds the reduction improper and restores the 70 percent disability rating for PTSD.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted SMC at the rate of 50% for his service-connected conditions from April 20, 2020 to June 7, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and earlier effective dates for tension headaches and lower back condition. The remaining issues of service connection for eye, neck, persistent cough, TBI residuals, and bilateral leg conditions are REMANDED.
- Granted
The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at a 10% disability rating, effective from the date of the June 2020 decision. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.
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