The Veteran's tension headaches are characterized by very frequent, completely prostrating, and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability prior to September 4, 2019. A 50% disability rating is granted.,Since September 4, 2019, the Veteran's right total knee arthroplasty has been characterized by chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion and weakness. A 60% disability rating is granted.
The deciding factor: The VA examination reports consistently indicated that the Veteran experiences very prostrating and prolonged attacks of headaches with pain productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50% rating prior to September 4, 2019. For his right total knee arthroplasty, the VA examination showed chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion and weakness, which is rated at 60%.
- Claimed conditions
- Tension headaches, Right total knee arthroplasty
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- June 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20039139
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 20039139.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial evaluation for tension headaches to include migraines is granted, with a rating of 50 percent effective from May 23, 2023.
- Granted
The Veteran's tension headaches, which have been service-connected since the grant of service connection, are found to be very frequent and completely prostrating with prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The Board grants an initial 50 percent rating for tension headaches prior to December 1, 2020.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for tension and migraine headaches is remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2020 VA examination report, which did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Granted
The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at a 30 percent rating, effective December 26, 2024. The Board found that the Veteran experienced characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months, warranting this rating. A higher rating is denied.
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