The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for common migraines and GERD were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's headaches did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 8100, as they occurred with less severity throughout the appeal period. For GERD, the Board determined that the symptoms did not more nearly approximate those warranting a 30 percent or higher disability rating under DC 7346. The Veteran's predominant symptoms were found to be related to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is separate from GERD.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s migraines and GERD did not meet the criteria for higher ratings as they did not involve characteristic prostrating attacks or considerable impairment of health, respectively. The Veteran's symptoms were found to be more consistent with IBS rather than GERD.
- Claimed conditions
- Common Migraines, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 4, 2022
- Citation
- 22026397
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 22026397.
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 acquired psychiatric disorder is granted a 70% rating, effective July 15, 2024. The Veteran's GERD remains at a 10% rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent rating prior to July 29, 2024. The GERD rating remains at 30 percent disabled but no higher.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's IBS with GERD was granted an initial 60 percent rating. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions and development.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected IBS and GERD, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.
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