Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and chronic headaches. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied.

The Board remands the matter to obtain a medical opinion that addresses the severity of the Veteran's headaches during the period on appeal without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection of multiple conditions, including multiple myeloma, schizotypal personality disorder with mild neurocognitive disorder, fibromyalgia, vitamin D deficiency, migraine headaches, and others.

The appeal was dismissed due to a procedural error and the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines has been resolved by a subsequent rating decision.

The Board denied a compensable rating for hypertension and dismissed the appeal for service connection for oral cancer. The claims for a compensable rating for migraine headaches and service connection for oral cancer were remanded.

The veteran withdrew all pending appeals, including those for increased ratings and service connection.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches to schedule a new VA examination due to an inadequate prior examination.

The Board denied service connection for throat cancer and a rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea. The claims for a compensable rating for headaches, a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD, and effective dates prior to November 5, 2024, for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 were remanded.

The Board granted the restoration of a 30% rating for migraine headaches effective April 12, 2021, and an initial 30% rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder prior to November 4, 2019.

The Board granted an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 30 percent rating for migraines, but denied earlier effective dates and initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain, left femoral nerve radiculopathy, right femoral nerve radiculopathy, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraine headaches and GERD were granted, along with an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension, migraine headaches, and left knee meniscal tear to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and secondary service connections for insomnia / sleep problems, headache disorder, and RIGHT knee osteoarthritis. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae of the skin was denied.

The Board granted service connection for a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness manifested by shortness of breath, headaches, and disturbances of smell and taste.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability and headache disability (migraines) as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or functional impairment of earning capacity. The claims for insomnia, right knee disability, and left knee disability were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for most conditions but granted readjudication of the left knee condition due to new and relevant evidence.

The Board granted a 10 percent initial rating for migraines and a 30 percent rating for sinusitis based on the evidence of record.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, cervical strain, chronic sinusitis, and lumbosacral strain due to a procedural error in the Veteran's appeal. The claim for a migraine or headache condition was remanded for further development.

The appeal of a proposed reduction of the evaluation of cluster headaches from 30 percent to 0 percent was dismissed due to it being only a proposal and not an effectuated decision.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, a lumbosacral disability, and right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examinations and the need for further development of evidence related to toxic exposures.