The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines, including migraine variants and tension headaches, was denied as the evidence did not establish a direct relationship to his service-connected PTSD with MDD.,Claims for increased ratings for scars on both knees were also denied due to lack of evidence showing they meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided an opinion that the Veteran's migraines are not secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and there is no medical evidence in the STRs indicating he had headaches during service. The Board therefore concluded that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to service for which he could be granted service connection.,The VA examiner also found that the Veteran's scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 7802, as they are not deep and nonlinear with underlying soft tissue damage.
- Claimed conditions
- migraines, headache disorder, scars, residual, anterior cruciate ligament repair, left knee, residual scar, right knee, status post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 9, 2023
- Citation
- 23014213
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 23014213.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal concerning the service connection claims for various conditions and initial compensable evaluations for service-connected erectile dysfunction and bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's migraines, effective April 30, 2026. The decision found that the Veteran's migraine headaches caused characteristic very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.
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