Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of November 7, 2018 for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Migraine Headaches as secondary to TBI.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines, as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The evidence shows that the Veteran's migraines were aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The claim of service connection for headaches, including as secondary to otitis media and participation in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA), is dismissed as moot. The claim of service connection for chronic kidney disease, related to medication taken for service-connected musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal disabilities, is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and headaches, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder claim is remanded due to a lack of examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is a but-for aggravator of his migraines, and therefore grants secondary service connection for migraines.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of his headache condition is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder and migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 2, 2018. The VA has granted TDIU effective from that date. Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) was also granted effective April 4, 2017.

The Veteran's overpayment of VA compensation benefits for headaches was waived due to the debt not being due to fraud, misrepresentation or bad faith. The Board found that recovery would cause undue hardship and thus granted the waiver.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a neck disability, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The case will be further reviewed and decided by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected migraine headaches was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's migraines did not present prolonged attacks or severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches was denied as the evidence did not show very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a scalp scar was denied because there were no characteristics of disfigurement. A separate 10 percent rating for a painful scalp scar was granted from November 25, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches, effective June 28, 2022, was granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced migraines with characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month over the last several months, meeting the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Veteran's effective date for a 30 percent rating for migraines is granted as of April 25, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to a duty-to-assist error related to the scheduling of VA examinations. The Board finds it unclear whether the Veteran received proper notice of the scheduled appointments and thus, the claims are being returned for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% evaluation, and the issue of service connection for migraines is remanded.

The Veteran's headaches are productive of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, resulting in severe economic inadaptability. The Board has granted an initial rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was granted with an effective date of December 24, 2021, which is one day after his separation from active duty.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection awards of PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the spine with lumbosacral strain, tension headaches, status-post left inguinal herniorrhaphy, costochondritis, and PFB and bilateral paronychia.

The Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder is granted a rating of 30 percent, effective June 1, 2021. Service connection for migraine headaches is also granted.