Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses What to Expect in a Shoulder Pain Exam.
Leah discusses the intricacies of obtaining a 50% disability rating for service-connected migraines in the Veterans Affairs (VA) system. She emphasizes that many veterans aim to increase their disability rating from 30% to 50% but often face denials due to misunderstandings about the criteria. The key criteria for a 50% rating include very frequent, prostrating, and economically debilitating migraines. Leah explains that "prostrating" migraines are severely debilitating and disrupt normal activities. She notes the importance of maintaining a detailed log of migraine occurrences and symptoms, as this can provide necessary evidence of their impact. The difference between 30% and 50% ratings hinges on the "severe economic inadaptability" caused by the migraines. This is often evidenced by factors like frequent sick leave, doctor's notes, or supervisor reports indicating significant work impact.