The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected headache disability is remanded due to the lack of a proper VA examination, which may have influenced the initial decision.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the February 2025 VA-contracted clinician failed to adequately account for the nature and severity of the Veteran's present headache disability by conducting only a records review instead of an in-person examination or interview.
- Claimed conditions
- Headache
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 29, 2026
- Citation
- A26040221
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 A26040221.
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 found new and relevant evidence to readjudicate the claim for service connection for a headache disability. The case is being remanded for further review.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headache disability, finding that his headaches began in service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, a headache disability as secondary to service-connected MS, and an eye disability as secondary to service-connected MS. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are supported by medical evidence, and the Board finds that they are related to her service-connected MS.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability was denied as there is no evidence of an unadjudicated claim prior to June 1, 2021.
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