The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbar strain, status post surgery with IVDS and a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches. The claims for non-compensable ratings for three surgical scars, s/p lumbar spine surgery, and 10 percent rating for painful surgical scar, posterior trunk, s/p lumbar surgery were denied. Additionally, the Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the Veteran's pain and corresponding functional impairment during flare-ups, as well as the frequency of prostrating attacks for his migraine headaches.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar strain, status post surgery with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), migraine headaches, surgical scar, posterior trunk, s/p lumbar spine surgery, painful surgical scar, posterior trunk, s/p lumbar surgery
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2025
- Citation
- A25038588
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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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