The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for migraine headaches and an effective date of July 30, 2020, for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with agoraphobia, TDIU, DEA benefits, and SMC. Other claims were denied.

The deciding factor: The evidence was at least in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's headaches produce characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over the last several months, and from July 30, 2020, to March 30, 2021, the Veteran was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due solely to service-connected disabilities.

Claimed conditions

migraine headaches, left knee strain, right ankle disability, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with agoraphobia, lower back condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), osteoarthritis MCL tear, meniscal tear, ACL tear, status post right knee arthroscopy and medial plica resection (right knee disability)

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

30%

Decision date

October 21, 2025

Citation

A25090831

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