Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a headache condition and assigned a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, while denying increased ratings for the low back condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The obstructive sleep apnea and right knee conditions were remanded.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches due to the need for an additional medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for adjustment disorder with anxiety, major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate, migraine including migraine variants, near-syncope (claimed as vasovagal syncope), thoracolumbar strain (claimed as musculoskeletal mid/lower back thoracolumbar spine), and tinnitus.

The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of December 9, 2022, for a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD and DEA benefits. The claim for SMC at the 's' rate for housebound status was denied.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for headaches to obtain an addendum opinion from a qualified clinician regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed headache condition.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, dizziness, and hypertension to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the rating decision on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for dermatosis and denied the claims for service connection for a chronic cervicothoracic pain disability, right shoulder disability, PTSD, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, ED, sleep apnea, left ulnar pain, right ulnar pain, left ring finger disability, right ankle surgery residuals with residual status post achilles enthesophyte excision, left knee disability, right knee disability, right wrist strain, and headaches.

The Board granted service connection for dermatosis and denied the claims for service connection for a chronic cervicothoracic pain disability, right shoulder disability, PTSD, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, ED, sleep apnea, left ulnar pain, right ulnar pain, left ring finger disability, right ankle surgery residuals with residual status post achilles enthesophyte excision, left knee disability, right knee disability, right wrist strain, and headaches.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence to support a diagnosis or onset of the claimed conditions during active duty.

The Veteran was granted an initial 50 percent rating for migraine headaches from July 12, 2018 to February 4, 2020.

The Board denied a compensable rating for migraine headaches prior to November 25, 2020, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter. The claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome were remanded.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeals for service connection and rating claims, and they are hereby dismissed.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for TBI residuals, headaches secondary to TBI, and sciatic conditions due to a need for additional development of the record.

The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for cervicogenic and analgesic rebound headaches is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The appeal for service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, and migraine headaches has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's migraine headaches with vasovagal pre-syncope were granted a 50 percent rating, while the claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for other conditions were denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension under the PACT Act and denied service connection for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, and remanded claims for asthma, low back, neck condition, and tension headaches.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis, which are presumed to be related to the Veteran's exposure to fine particulate matter while serving in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate as he does not have a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent, separate and distinct from the 100 percent service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, as the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability and there was no credible evidence that any claimed condition began during or is related to active duty.