The Board denied service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis to her service-connected migraine headaches and lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's combined rating from all service-connected disabilities is at least 70%, meeting the criteria for TDIU, but she was found unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her employment history.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has been employed in full-time positions since 2000 and currently holds a position as a hospital coder/biller. Her service-connected conditions do not hinder her ability to work at this job, which she has held for over 12 years.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, migraine headaches, lumbosacral strain, pain disorder, thrombophlebitis migrans of the right lower extremity, sciatica nerve in the right lower extremity, myoma of uterus, bilateral shin splints
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- January 11, 2018
- Citation
- 1802713
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 1802713.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's migraine headaches based on prostrating attacks occurring more than once a month and severe economic inadaptability.
- Granted
The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted a 50 percent disability rating, effective August 8, 2023, due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks that are productive of severe economic inadaptability.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and lumbar radicopathy, right side, secondary to the lumbosacral strain.
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