The Veteran's headaches are rated at the maximum available (50%) due to very frequent and prostrating attacks.,Right upper extremity radicular neuropathy is rated at 20%, left upper extremity radicular neuropathy at 30%, right lower extremity radicular neuropathy at 10%, and left lower extremity radicular neuropathy (prior to July 16, 2016) at 20%.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's headaches meet the criteria for a 50% rating under DC 8100 due to very frequent prostrating attacks. The right upper and left upper extremity radicular neuropathies are rated based on their severity, with the right lower extremity rated at 10%, and the left lower extremity rated at 20% prior to July 16, 2016 and 10% thereafter.
- Claimed conditions
- Headaches, Right Upper Extremity Radicular Neuropathy, Left Upper Extremity Radicular Neuropathy, Right Lower Extremity Radicular Neuropathy, Left Lower Extremity Radicular Neuropathy (prior to July 16, 2016), Left Lower Extremity Radicular Neuropathy (after July 16, 2016)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 6, 2018
- Citation
- 1807645
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 1807645.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of persistent daytime hypersomnolence or other manifestations consistent with a compensable disability rating under the criteria established by Diagnostic Codes. The matter is remanded to obtain additional information from the Veteran regarding his headaches and their impact on his daily life.
- Granted
The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to PTSD, but his headaches are denied due to lack of service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's headaches, which manifested as very frequent and prolonged attacks causing severe economic inadaptability, are granted a 50 percent disability rating for the entire period on appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 30 percent disability rating for his service-connected headaches, which was awarded with a noncompensable rating at 0 percent. The Board is remanding the claim due to inadequate examination and the need for a new VA examination to evaluate the severity of the Veteran's headaches without considering the ameliorating effects of any medication.
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.