The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of a 30 percent rating for tension headaches, service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right upper extremities associated with cervical strain, and an initial 50 percent rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and insomnia disorder, all effective from September 28, 2019.

The deciding factor: The evidence supports that the Veteran's tension headaches have been present as early as September 28, 2019, and his symptoms of adjustment disorder with anxiety and insomnia disorder more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity during this time period.

Claimed conditions

tension headaches, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity associated with cervical strain, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity associated with cervical strain, adjustment disorder with anxiety and insomnia disorder

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

50%

Decision date

November 17, 2025

Citation

A25099601

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine