Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's migraine headaches as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine condition is indicative of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged migraine headache attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50 percent evaluation.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms met the criteria for this higher rating. The claim for service connection for inguinal hernia repair residuals was remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for chronic headaches, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, left knee strain (chronic left knee pain), and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance in calendar year 2021 for triamcinolone 0.023% topical cream due to insufficient evidence showing that the medication causes irreparable damage to his clothing.

The Board granted the claim for service connection for headaches, finding that the Veteran experienced headaches in service after a head injury and symptoms have continued since service.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for TBI, headaches, cervical spine disorder, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, myofasciitis, and right and left shin splints based on new and relevant evidence.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), both associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with bruxism, as well as a rating of 50 percent for migraine headaches from December 18, 2020. The claims for service connection for cervical strain, left shoulder, right shoulder, and dizziness were remanded.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's tension headaches effective October 27, 2021, but denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for migraine headaches and GERD due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss disability, and remanded several other issues including ratings for ankle strains, lumbar spine, lower extremity radiculopathy, knee disabilities, chronic headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied higher initial ratings for GERD and migraine headaches, but granted a 50 percent evaluation for migraine headaches from January 29, 2024.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and service connection for various disabilities, including Graves' disease, an acquired psychiatric disability, migraines, narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for periodic leg movements, obstructive airway defect, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, right shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and cephalalgia (migraines) based on presumptive or direct service connection. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis, irritable bowel syndrome, right wrist ganglion cyst, unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with depressive disorder, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome were denied.

The Board granted service connection for acne, to include as secondary to a service-connected psychiatric disorder, and dismissed the appeals for lipoma, migraine headaches, and sleep apnea condition. The claim for a neck and cervical spine condition was remanded.

The Board granted an effective date of July 30, 2022 for the award of a 50 percent rating for generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder (psychiatric disorder) but denied earlier effective dates for other conditions.

The Board remands the claim for a headache disorder to obtain another VA medical examination and opinion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for headaches, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea with COPD. The veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected headaches effective February 1, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder strain and tension headaches, denied service connection for sinusitis, and granted initial ratings of 70 percent, but no higher, for depressive disorder, 40 percent, but no higher, for lumbosacral strain, and 20 percent, but no higher, for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of May 17, 2017, for the grant of a 50 percent rating for migraines.