The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches, or an increase in disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome prior to June 7, 2018, and since June 7, 2018. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish that the Veteran’s migraine headaches were so severe in their symptomatology and duration as to rise to the level of very prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. Additionally, there was no evidence showing that her degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome met the criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- migraine headaches, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20066570
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted a 50 percent disability rating, effective August 8, 2023, due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks that are productive of severe economic inadaptability.
- Granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's migraine headaches based on prostrating attacks occurring more than once a month and severe economic inadaptability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches as proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, but no greater.
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