The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, which is the highest available. The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s migraines meet the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation due to their very frequent and prolonged attacks.,For cervical spine strain with mild spondylotic changes, the Veteran's condition is currently rated at 10 percent. The VA examination indicated that the Veteran does not have forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees or combined range of motion not greater than 170 degrees, which are required for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's migraines meet the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation based on their very frequent and prolonged attacks that cause severe economic inadaptability.
- Claimed conditions
- Migraine headaches, Cervical spine strain with mild spondylotic changes, Tinnitus, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with bruxism, Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- April 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20023642
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 20023642.
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 denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, right hand, and GERD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities during service.
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