The veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings were granted, with the exception of the lumbar strain claim which was denied. The veteran is entitled to a 10 percent evaluation for hiatal hernia prior to November 16, 1998, and from that date forward.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed symptoms consistent with hiatal hernia, including heartburn, but not the other criteria required for a higher rating. The lumbar strain claim was denied as there were no additional symptoms or findings warranting a higher evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- sinusitis, hiatal hernia, lumbar strain with left radiculopathy, scoliosis, and minimal arthritis, patellofemoral syndrome, left knee, migraine headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 26, 2000
- Citation
- 0019539
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 0019539.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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 remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between service, including a stick injury in England, and current left eye disability (including amblyopia and cataracts) as well as migraine headaches.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and has ordered the case back to the AOJ for proper notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing.
- Granted
The Veteran's migraine headaches are productive of very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks capable of producing severe economic inadaptability. The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches.
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