The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her mechanical low back pain with degenerative joint disease and migraine headaches, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the low back disorder or a rating in excess of 30 percent for the migraines prior to June 20, 2003, and to a rating in excess of 50 percent thereafter.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support findings warranting higher ratings based on severe limitation of motion, intervertebral disc syndrome, or other criteria under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Mechanical low back pain with degenerative joint disease, Migraine headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 18, 2004
- Citation
- 0415821
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 0415821.
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.
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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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