Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for post-traumatic headaches as the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating or higher.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches with vertigo and other disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and he is entitled to special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Board denied an effective date prior to February 28, 2022, for the award of service connection for migraine headaches.

The Veteran was granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy from November 20, 2012, and a TDIU from the same date to May 19, 2022. The claims for earlier effective dates for hypertension and tension headaches were denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted a rating of 50 percent, but no more. Other claims for service connection were denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, but remanded the claims for headaches and right knee disability for further development.

The Board granted service connection for headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected maxillary sinusitis and fibromyalgia, but denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and deviated nasal septum.

The Board granted a disability rating of 50 percent for the service-connected headaches for the period beginning on January 30, 2015, and prior to January 15, 2021.

The appeal of the September 2024 denial of service connection for a right knee disability and a right shoulder disability is dismissed as these claims are now moot due to subsequent grants of service connection. The initial rating for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) was denied, while an initial rating of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was granted.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied it for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The remaining claims for various other conditions were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for left wrist strain, right wrist strain, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition as secondary to service-connected lupus. Service connection was also granted for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis as secondary to psoriasis.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for headaches to obtain outstanding private treatment records from January 1, 2004 to January 1, 2024.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches but granted it for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) from September 21, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, but remanded several other claims including an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, prostate disability, COPD, coronary arteriosclerosis, femoral artery disabilities, hearing loss, tinnitus, dry eye condition, liver disease, toenail fungus, headaches, and hypertension.

The Board remands the claims for an initial increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, service connection for GERD, chronic headaches, left and right hip conditions, and a lumbar spine condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as a remanded claim for further development.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, and remanded several other conditions for further review.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including ankle pain, chronic lower back pain, GERD, hair thinning/loss, IBS, and others, as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including GERD, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability, and multiple musculoskeletal and other conditions, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain due to the service-connected right shoulder degenerative arthritis and a 10 percent disability rating for narcolepsy, while denying increased ratings for other conditions.