The Veteran's headaches were rated at 50% from September 19, 2018 to August 5, 2019 and at 30% beginning August 6, 2019. The effective dates for the initial ratings of 30%, 10%, and 20% were granted on July 18, 2017 for chronic heartburn with stomach bloating and diarrhea, asthma, and cervical spine radiculopathy respectively. The Veteran's CFS was restored to a 20% rating effective August 6, 2019.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed that the Veteran experienced characteristic prostrating attacks of headaches from September 19, 2018 to August 5, 2019 and once per month after that. The symptoms were severe enough to cause economic inadaptability during those periods. For the period before September 19, 2018, there was no evidence of prostrating attacks.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic headache syndrome (headaches), chronic heartburn with stomach bloating and chronic diarrhea, right upper extremity radiculopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 9, 2020
- Citation
- A20018248
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 A20018248.
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.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and chronic fatigue syndrome as there is no evidence of a current disability in the record.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative arthritis. The claims for back pain and right upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence for a schedular rating, and the issues are inextricably intertwined.
- Dismissed
The appeal seeking to establish entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) is dismissed because the AOJ decision was merely implementing a Board's earlier effective date decision for service connection.
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