The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted service connection.,Prior to December 5, 2019, the Veteran's tension and vascular headaches are not entitled to a compensable rating. Beginning December 5, 2019, they are rated at 30 percent.,An effective date of July 21, 2017 is granted for the grant of service connection for tension and vascular headaches.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was related to his period of active service. The VA opinion provided in August 2018 did not consider the Veteran's credible lay assertions regarding when his symptoms began.,Prior to December 5, 2019, the Veteran's headaches were evaluated as tension and vascular headaches with non-headache symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, and photophobia. The VA examiner noted that he had prostrating attacks once a month, which meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating.,Beginning December 5, 2019, the Veteran's headaches were evaluated as migraine headaches with characteristic prostrating attacks occurring once a month, meeting the criteria for a 30 percent rating. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher 50 percent rating due to the frequency and duration of his attacks.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability, tension and vascular headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- September 26, 2023
- Citation
- 23053460
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 23053460.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as these issues have been addressed in a separate docket.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection is being remanded for the lumbar spine disability and right knee and calf disabilities.
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