The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to a service-connected low back disability and granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the veteran's low back disability. The claim for a higher rating for left foot fracture residuals was also denied.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support a finding that the veteran's migraines were caused or permanently worsened by her service-connected low back disability, and the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for secondary service connection. The Board found that the veteran's low back disability more nearly approximated the criteria for a 20 percent rating under Code 5295.
- Claimed conditions
- Migraine Headaches, Low Back Disability, Left Foot Fracture Residuals
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 7, 2002
- Citation
- 0213749
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 0213749.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a low back disability, a left knee disability, and a left shoulder disability as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches based on the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury and migraine headaches have rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment, thus granting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, low back disability, and associated nerve pain due to a pre-decisional error in failing to adequately address lay statements regarding the onset of symptoms.
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