Citation Nr: 21074633
Decision Date: 12/15/21	Archive Date: 12/15/21

DOCKET NO. 14-19 494
 DATE: December 15, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for a headache disability as secondary to service-connected disability is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from August 1975 to August 1978.

This matter is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) following a Board Remand in May 2021.

In July 2017, the Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) at a videoconference hearing.  A transcript of that hearing is of record

Although the Board regrets additional delay, remand is necessary to comply with the Board's previous remand instructions. See Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268 (1998).

As previously noted by the Board, the October 2019 VA examiner raised the possibility that the Veteran's headache complaints are caused or aggravated by his service-connected schizoaffective disorder. 

In May 2021, the Board remanded the issue to obtain an opinion to determine if the Veteran's headache disability is related to his service-connected psychiatric disability or service-connected cervical spine disability. In June 2021, the VA examiner provided a direct service connection opinion and did not address the theory of secondary service connection.  As such, remand is necessary to comply with the previous Board instructions and determine if the Veteran's headache complaints are caused or aggravated by his service-connected schizoaffective disorder and/or cervical spine condition.

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain the Veteran's updated VA treatment records.

2. Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran's current headache disability is at least as likely as not either (a) proximately due to, or (b) aggravated beyond its natural progression by his service-connected schizoaffective disorder and/or his cervical spine condition.

 

 

P.M. DILORENZO

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	M. Hofmeister

The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.