The Veteran's service-connected migraine and tension headaches are rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under current VA regulations. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as he does not have very prostrating and prolonged attacks of headache pain.
The deciding factor: The Veteran reported having mild to severe headaches occurring one to three times per week, with more severe headaches once every two weeks. His most recent VA examination found an average of one headache per month resulting in prostrating attacks of headache pain, which does not meet the criteria for a higher 50 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Migraines, Tension headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- April 12, 2018
- Citation
- 1822453
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 1822453.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial evaluation for tension headaches to include migraines is granted, with a rating of 50 percent effective from May 23, 2023.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for tension and migraine headaches is remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2020 VA examination report, which did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Granted
The Veteran's tension headaches, which have been service-connected since the grant of service connection, are found to be very frequent and completely prostrating with prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The Board grants an initial 50 percent rating for tension headaches prior to December 1, 2020.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his migraine headaches was denied as the evidence did not show that his migraines were productive of severe economic inadaptability.
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