Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board granted an effective date of July 9, 2021, for the grant of entitlement to service connection for migraines based on a new theory that it was secondarily related to his sleep apnea.

The Board remands the claim for a compensable rating for migraine headaches to ensure the Veteran is afforded an informal conference as requested.

The Board denied service connection for common headaches as the evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between the post-service diagnosis and service, including due to TERA exposure.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and denied increased ratings, except for a 70% rating for major depressive disorder (MDD) from November 21, 2012, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to MDD from the same date. The Board also granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate from June 10, 2014.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for a headache disability, sinus disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for migraines and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board remands the matter for a retrospective VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's migraines without the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board remands the matter for a retrospective assessment of the severity of the Veteran's headaches disability, including flare-ups and their impact on functional impairment.

The Board denied service connection for a sleep disorder other than insomnia and denied increased ratings for migraine headaches, PTSD with alcohol use disorder, insomnia disorder, and residuals of TBI, and TDIU prior to October 27, 2021. However, the Board granted a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches since June 11, 2021, a 70 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder, insomnia disorder, and residuals of TBI since May 1, 2019, and a TDIU solely due to service-connected psychiatric disabilities as of October 27, 2021.

The Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for headaches associated with post-concussive syndrome from January 1, 2004, to February 7, 2025, and a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral spine strain from March 1, 2018, to May 21, 2023.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due solely to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the statutory housebound rate.

The Board denied service connection for gout and erectile dysfunction, remanded claims for service connection for Hepatitis C, hypertension, liver cancer, diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis of the liver, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, headaches, memory loss, and the Veteran's cause of death, and referred claims for service connection for headaches, memory loss, and the Veteran's cause of death to the RO.

The Board granted an effective date of January 11, 2006 for the grant of service connection for high blood pressure (hypertension) and denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, reopened the claims for lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, and granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD with TBI.

The Board granted a 50 percent disability rating for the service-connected headache disorder, which is the maximum schedular disability rating.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the 70 percent rating for bipolar disorder, TDIU, and SMC as well as service connection for a respiratory condition, headaches, lumbosacral strain, erectile dysfunction, and right and left hip condition.

The Board granted service connection for migraines as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but remanded the claim for service connection for hypertension due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition and migraines, but denied increased ratings for left and right patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board granted service connection for tension headaches, left testicular pain, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The reduction in rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder from 70 percent to 50 percent was improper; a 70 percent disability rating is restored.

The Board granted service connection for a seizure disability as secondary to the Veteran's TBI, restored a 50% rating for tension headaches, and granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to residuals of a TBI.