An effective date of July 10, 2018 is granted for the award of an increased 50 percent rating for service-connected migraine headaches.,Restoration of a 70 percent disability rating for the service-connected psychiatric disability (other specified anxiety disorder with depression and alcohol use disorder) is granted, effective May 26, 2020.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's argument based on continuous pursuit has been established in this case, and the date of claim is July 10, 2018, the date of receipt of the intent to file and the date from which service connection is established for migraine headaches.,To properly reduce a disability rating, VA must establish, by an approximate balance of the evidence, that a reduction was warranted because there had been actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under the ordinary conditions of life and work.
- Claimed conditions
- Migraine headaches, Other specified anxiety disorder with depression, Alcohol use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- February 17, 2026
- Citation
- A26014304
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 A26014304.
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 Veteran's service connection claims for traumatic brain injury and migraine headaches due to right eye removal are granted. The claim for a compensable evaluation of xeroderma of the right eye is remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied an increased initial disability rating for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 50% rating due to lack of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's requests for an effective date prior to June 3, 2020 for the grants of service connection for PTSD and tinnitus. The decision states that VA did not receive an ITF in September 2019 as claimed by the Veteran or her representative, and thus no earlier effective date can be granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, particularly PTSD. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions and related stressors.
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