The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have prevented her from being able to secure and follow substantially gainful occupation, and she is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the statutory housebound rate.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches cause functional limitations that prevent her from performing the mental and physical acts required by any job or an office setting, making it impossible for her to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with her education, skills, training, and work history.
- Claimed conditions
- migraine headaches, unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress to include traumatic brain injury (TBI), cervical spine strain, lateral collateral ligament sprain, right ankle, pseudofolliculitis barbae, lateral collateral ligament sprain, left ankle, tinnitus, painful scars - c-section, bilateral feet plantar fasciitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left knee strain, right knee strain, dry eye syndrome, hemorrhoids, anemia, eczema, alopecia, female arousal disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- June 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25050386
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 granted service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, right wrist strain, and TBI. The Veteran's PTSD rating was remanded for further development.
- 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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
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