The veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, effective October 4, 2000, resulted in a combined disability rating of 80 percent. The RO determined that the veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, effective October 4, 2000.
The deciding factor: The veteran's migraine headaches were found to be severe and frequent, causing him to be inactive as of October 4, 2000, meeting the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss Disability, Bilateral Tinnitus Disability, Degenerative Joint Disease, Left Knee, Degenerative Joint Disease, Right Knee, Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease, Maxillary Sinusitis with Allergic Rhinitis, Migraine Headaches, Post-Traumatic Arthritis, Interphalangeal Joint, Left Thumb
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- July 14, 2006
- Citation
- 0620396
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,500 · Granted: 17% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0620396.
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 Veteran's 50% disability rating for migraine headaches was restored as the evidence did not show actual improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.
- Granted
The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 50 percent rating, effective December 3, 2021, due to frequent and severe attacks that significantly impact his ability to work.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of erectile dysfunction was dismissed. A rating of 50 percent, and no higher, for migraines is granted. An initial rating of 30 percent, and no higher, for IBS is granted. Service connection for hypertension is remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone is sufficient to grant a TDIU, and his other service-connected disabilities are at least 60% combined. The Veteran also meets the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.