Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding chronic headaches, insomnia, and left ear hearing loss. The Board dismissed these appeals.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's migraine headaches may be related to a service-connected disability, but needs further examination and opinion to determine if this is true.

The Veteran's tension headaches were rated at 30 percent from October 31, 2018 to March 23, 2022. The rating was granted based on the Veteran's reports of daily 'nuisance' headaches and weekly severe headaches that required resting in a dark room.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headache disability is rated at the highest schedular rating of 50 percent, effective October 17, 2019.

The Board has denied service connection for gout, heart disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bladder disability, sinus disability, bilateral flat feet, and headache disability. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right ankle strain, left ankle strain, and tension headaches. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to in-service events or injuries.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's tension headaches were aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus, and thus grants the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's headache condition was aggravated by service and whether it is linked to his in-service headaches.

The Veteran's pansinusitis including frontal sinusitis with headaches status post sinus surgery is currently rated at 30 percent and the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding a diagnosis of TBI and issues related to service connection for TBI and its residuals, separate from service-connected disability.

The Veteran's migraines have been rated at 30% since September 2019. The Board has now granted a 50% rating, which is the maximum available under DC 8100.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for headaches and a rating greater than 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and eczema due to errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be etiologically related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted a maximum 50 percent rating for mixed tension/migraine headaches, which is the highest schedular rating available. As a result, the appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's current migraines began during active service. However, the Board denied service connection for a lumbar strain (claimed as degenerative disc disease), concluding that there is no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 16, 2018 for the assignment of a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches and for the grant of TDIU. The Veteran's disability picture was reflective of her service-connected migraines as of that date.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for headaches associated with hypertension, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's MDD and migraine headaches have been rated at the maximum available evaluation (50 percent), but the Board has remanded to reassess these conditions.,The Veteran's TDIU and SMC claims related to his MDD or migraine headaches are also being remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and headaches (claimed as cephalgia).

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, sinusitis, a respiratory condition, sleep apnea, and migraines. The Board dismissed the appeal as per the Veteran's withdrawal.