The Board granted a 20 percent disability evaluation for low back pain with small disc protrusion at L5-S1 and a noncompensable disability evaluation for migraine headaches.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the veteran's low back disability is characterized by moderate intervertebral disc syndrome with recurring attacks, which meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5293. The veteran's migraines are characterized as productive of prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over several months.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back pain with small disc protrusion at L5-S1, Migraine headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 8, 2002
- Citation
- 0201313
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 0201313.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of November 5, 2021, for the grants of service connection and eligibility for DEA benefits.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and migraine headaches, but remanded the claims for a low back disability and related radiculopathies.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection for a facial injury, head injury, and left thumb injury as there was no evidence of current disability or functional impairment. The claims for GERD, squamous mucosa, migraine headaches, and hypertension were remanded for further development.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for failure to timely file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) with the July 2024 rating decision.
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