The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50% due to very frequent, prostrating attacks that cause severe economic inadaptability.,For cervical strain, a rating of 40% is granted since January 31, 2018, and the initial rating prior to this date remains at 20%. The Veteran's radiculopathy from his neck disability is also service-connected.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran experiences very frequent headaches that are prostrating and cause severe economic inadaptability.,Since January 31, 2018, the Veteran has experienced episodes of bed rest lasting at least four weeks but less than six weeks due to his cervical strain.
- Claimed conditions
- Headaches, Cervical Strain, Radiculopathy of the Right Upper Extremity, Radiculopathy of the Left Upper Extremity
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- August 25, 2020
- Citation
- 20056254
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 20056254.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 70 percent to 50 percent, effective February 20, 2025. The Board finds the reduction improper and restores the 70 percent disability rating for PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of persistent daytime hypersomnolence or other manifestations consistent with a compensable disability rating under the criteria established by Diagnostic Codes. The matter is remanded to obtain additional information from the Veteran regarding his headaches and their impact on his daily life.
- Granted
The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to PTSD, but his headaches are denied due to lack of service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's headaches, which manifested as very frequent and prolonged attacks causing severe economic inadaptability, are granted a 50 percent disability rating for the entire period on appeal.
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