Veterans’ RightsAn independent resource for veterans
← All decisions
Granted

The Veteran's migraines are granted a 10 percent rating from March 19, 2015 to May 19, 2017. A higher rating is denied. The claim for separate ratings for PTSD and TBI is denied. The combined rating for PTSD with TBI remains at 70 percent.

The deciding factor: The evidence does not support more than a 10 percent rating for migraines due to the lack of characteristic prostrating attacks, but there are indications of frequent and painful headaches. The Veteran's PTSD and TBI symptoms were combined into one disability rating as they are concomitant disorders.

Claimed conditions
Migraines, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
10%
Decision date
November 26, 2019
Citation
19189094

Veterans Law Judge

MATTHEW W. BLACKWELDER

Decisions by this judge: 2,329 · Granted: 31% (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 19189094.

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.

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.