I cant catch what your means "works with vs 2015 in all cases", I add this segment reference form the pch_souce config in the next part as follow:
<%if(source_files)%>
< ItemGroup >
<%if(pch_source)%>
< ClCompile Include="<%pch_source%>" >
<%foreach(platforms)%>
<%foreach(configurations)%>
< PrecompiledHeader Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='<%configuration% >|<%platform%>'">Create</ PrecompiledHeader >
<%endfor%>
with only this segment only pch_souce file being added to the project, so I try to add my segment page, with new added segment the pch_header appeared in the project.