The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the service-connected tension headaches, but has remanded the issues regarding cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient evidence.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's daily headache attacks were found to be characterized by prostrating attacks, warranting a 30 percent rating. However, her cervical and lumbar spine disabilities require further examination to determine if they are functionally equivalent to ankylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Tension headaches, Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine with mild disc bulge at L4-L5 with L5-S1 involvement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 7, 2022
- Citation
- 22033234
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 22033234.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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.
- 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, 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.
- 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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