Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for the low-back condition and 50 percent for sinusitis, while denying increased ratings for the right-shoulder strain and service connection for left-leg radiculopathy, right-leg radiculopathy, and headache condition.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for headaches effective March 29, 2023, and denied an increased rating for pes planus.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, migraine headaches, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, and posttraumatic stress disorder at any point during the appeal period.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) based on the evidence of record.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for various conditions, as well as the issue regarding whether the character of the Appellant's discharge from service constitutes a bar to VA benefits.

The Board dismissed all claims for higher initial ratings and service connection, as the Veteran requested a higher-level review of these issues in May 2024 but then appealed to the Board in August 2024, leading to concurrent review which is not allowed.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including high cholesterol, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as a compensable rating for acne vulgaris and migraine.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable disability rating for headaches and a minimum compensable disability rating for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 to ensure that the AOJ conducts additional evidentiary development, including obtaining any outstanding relevant records and an additional medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and initial rating due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board remands the claim for a secondary service connection for migraines to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board remands the claim for a headache disability to correct a duty to assist error, specifically to obtain additional medical opinions addressing secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes, hypertension, renal cancer, and erectile dysfunction but remanded claims for a headache disorder, sinus disorder, and stuttering. The denial was based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for a respiratory condition (diagnosed as asthma) and an initial 30 percent disability rating for service-connected migraine headaches, while denying service connection for kidney disease (left kidney).

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to address the inadequacies in the previous examinations and provide a more comprehensive opinion on service connection for migraines and the severity of the low back disability.

The Board remands the claims for further development and evidence collection, including obtaining complete medical records and conducting VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board restored the 10 percent rating for right lower extremity (RLE) radiculopathy, femoral nerve, and denied increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, erectile dysfunction, TBI with unspecified depressive disorder, and migraines.

The Board granted restoration of a 10 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain, effective May 11, 2021, and granted increased ratings for persistent depressive disorder and migraine headaches.

The Board remands the claim for a new medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's migraine headaches were caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches effective October 16, 2023, and service connection for adjustment disorder. Other claims were denied.

The Board remands the claims for a thoracolumbar spine disability, headache disability, and right knee disability to include as due to a left knee disability for further development of the record.