The Veteran's claim for service connection for DJD of the low back was reopened and granted. However, his claim for service connection for a migraine disorder was denied.
The deciding factor: The July 2014 VA examination confirmed the Veteran has DJD of the low back, which began during his active service. The examiner concluded that it is less likely than not related to his military service. Conversely, there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current migraine disorder to his service.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the low back, Migraine disorder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19142814
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,669 · Granted: 23% (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 19142814.
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 was granted a rating of total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based upon service-connected disorders effective July 20, 2022, and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 for the same effective date.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims as there was a full award of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, and right lower extremity in September 2016. The issues of entitlement to service connection for migraine disorder, seizure disorder, and loss of smell are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease and migraine disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and the potential availability of private medical records.
- Granted
The Veteran's increased disability rating for DJD of the low back was granted, and a separate compensable disability rating for post operative residuals of hemorrhoidectomies with anal stricture was also granted. The Board found that referral for an extraschedular rating was not warranted.
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.