The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of posttraumatic headaches, IVDS, spinal stenosis, and lumbosacral strain have been denied as the evidence does not show that his symptoms meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found that the Veteran's headaches did not manifest characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month or more frequently over several months, and there was no medical evidence showing frequent and prolonged prostrating attacks as required for a 50% rating under Diagnostic Code 8100.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Headaches, Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS), Spinal Stenosis, Lumbosacral Strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 1, 2020
- Citation
- A20017685
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,451 · Granted: 22% (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 A20017685.
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 Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, including diagnosed degenerative arthritis with DDD other than intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis status post L3, L4, and L5 laminectomy. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury and his ongoing symptoms since then.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on several conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.,The Board has not assigned a specific rating or effective date as the claims are being remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic headaches have been rated at a 50 percent evaluation, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100 for very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found a pre-decisional error in the denial of the Veteran's request to change his vocational rehabilitation goal from diesel technology to obtaining a music degree. The case is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration.
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