Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for IBS, chronic sinusitis, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy (secondary to lumbar spine disability), increased ratings for the lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, and increased ratings for knee instability and upper extremity radiculopathy. Tension headaches were also granted an initial rating.

The Board granted initial ratings of 10 percent for residual left foot injury and 30 percent for migraine headaches, while denying initial compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, GERD, major depressive disorder with depressive features, insomnia disorder, and service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for mid back and low back pain and migraine, including migraine variants.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for headaches but granted an effective date of January 14, 2010, for the grant of individual unemployability and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, denied an increased rating for PTSD with other specified depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and remanded claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches and service connection for traumatic brain injury.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left ankle pain, and remanded the claims for increased ratings in excess of 30 percent for chronic headaches, 20 percent for a back disability, 10 percent for a neck disability, 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and 10 percent for right foot plantar fasciitis, as well as service connection for a traumatic brain injury.

The appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims were withdrawn by the Veteran, leading to their dismissal. The remaining claims for service connection are remanded for further development.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 27, 2014, for the award of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a clear and unmistakable error in the December 2014 rating decision. The motion for revision of the January 2014 rating decision on the basis of CUE to assign a 50 percent disability rating for migraines was denied.

The Board granted an effective date of July 24, 2021, for the grant of service connection for migraines.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for tension headaches and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board granted earlier effective dates for migraines and tension headaches and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but remanded the claims for a compensable rating and service connection for a heart condition.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for multiple musculoskeletal conditions due to a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the October 2021 rating decision on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches and an initial 30 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, finding that they meet the criteria for very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date, as there was no evidence of additional functional impairment or symptoms beyond those already compensated by the noncompensable ratings.

The Board vacated its April 2025 decision regarding the Veteran's motions for revision or reversal of portions of a September 2013 and July 2023 rating decisions based on CUE due to procedural errors.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, resolving doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding a nexus between her current condition and active service.

The Board granted an initial rating of more than 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, but denied ratings for obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis, left and right restless leg syndrome, chronic maculopapular dermatosis, alopecia, and service connection claims for various conditions.

The appeal regarding the proposed reduction of the disability rating for tension headaches was dismissed as it was not a final decision.

The Board remands the claim for a new examination to address whether the Veteran's migraine headaches are secondary to service-connected tinnitus.