The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the highest possible schedular rating (50%) and do not warrant an extra-schedular evaluation.,The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracic and lumbar spine does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher than 20 percent disability rating under any applicable diagnostic code.,The Veteran's left lower extremity neurological impairment due to disc prolapse at L5-S1 does not warrant a higher than 20 percent disability rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.,The Veteran's memory impairment due to undiagnosed illness does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher than 10 percent disability rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the highest possible schedular rating (50%) and do not warrant an extra-schedular evaluation due to the severity of his symptoms, which are fully contemplated by the current rating criteria.,The intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracic and lumbar spine does not result in forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least four weeks but less than six weeks during a 12-month period.,The left lower extremity neurological impairment does not result in moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve and thus does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.,The memory impairment due to undiagnosed illness does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher than 10 percent disability rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- migraines, intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracic and lumbar spine, left lower extremity neurological impairment due to disc prolapse at L5-S1, memory impairment due to undiagnosed illness
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2017
- Citation
- 1749116
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 1749116.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Dismissed
The appeal concerning the service connection claims for various conditions and initial compensable evaluations for service-connected erectile dysfunction and bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's migraines, effective April 30, 2026. The decision found that the Veteran's migraine headaches caused characteristic very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.
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