Citation Nr: 21015288 Decision Date: 03/17/21 Archive Date: 03/17/21 DOCKET NO. 14-34 065 DATE: March 17, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a headache disorder is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service in the Marine Corps from January 2009 to January 2013. The appeal originates from a December 2013 decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office. The Veteran appeared for a hearing before the undersigned in December 2017. Entitlement to service connection for a headache disorder is remanded. The Veteran contends that he has headaches due to an August 2010 in-service incident when he was struck by a ladder on the back of the right ear, to include as the residual of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). See February 2021 Appellate Brief. The Board denied service connection for a TBI in July 2018 and remanded the matter for a VA examination with opinion to clarify whether he has a headache disorder related to service. An examination with opinions was obtained in June 2019. The examiner diagnosed tension headaches and opined that they were not related to service partially based on the absence of in-service treatment for headaches, complaint of headache after the August 2010 incident, or evidence of chronic headache during service. Service treatment records, however, show that the Veteran was seen for a frontal headache in 2009, that a headache was noted following the incident, and that the Veteran reported frequent or severe headache on a December 2012 report of medical history. The examiner did not address this evidence and therefore remand is warranted for an addendum opinion. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Request an addendum opinion from the June 2019 examiner. The examiner is asked to opine whether tension headaches had their onset in or are otherwise etiologically related to active service, including the August 2010 incident when the Veteran was struck by a ladder on the back of the right ear. The examiner must address the notations of headaches in the service treatment records, including in February 2009, August 2010, and December 2012. MICHAEL A. HERMAN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board M. Alhinnawi 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 This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.