The Veteran's migraines are granted service connection, and the lumbar spine strain with L5-S1 disc protrusion is granted a 40 percent evaluation. The S1 nerve root compression (sciatica/radiculopathy of right lower extremity) remains at 20 percent from September 30, 2014 onwards. PTSD with panic disorder and insomnia is granted a 30 percent initial evaluation prior to January 11, 2011. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further development. Other issues remain pending.
The deciding factor: The April 2017 VA examination established that the Veteran’s migraines were more likely caused by his service-connected PTSD and vertigo.
- Claimed conditions
- migraines, lumbar spine strain with L5-S1 disc protrusion, S1 nerve root compression (sciatica/radiculopathy of right lower extremity), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with panic disorder and insomnia
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19101849
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,170 · Granted: 38% (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 19101849.
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 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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