Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right knee limitation of flexion, and migraines due to inadequate VA examinations that did not discount the beneficial effects of medication.

The Board denied higher ratings for PTSD and alcohol use disorder, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. However, service connection was granted for allergic rhinitis under the PACT Act.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for left knee meniscal tear and chronic rhinitis, but denied earlier effective dates for headaches and a left knee scar. Service connection was also granted for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Board remands the matter for the AOJ to request private treatment records related to the Veteran's migraine headaches.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for tension headaches.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and migraine headaches, both of which are found to be proximately due to the Veteran's already service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and denied increased ratings for allergic rhinitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), lumbar strain, and cervical strain. A 50 percent rating was granted for migraines from January 11, 2021.

The claims for service connection for headaches, cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity (LUE), right squamous cell carcinoma of the vocal cord, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left and right sciatic radicular pain and paresthesia, chronic headaches, and pseudofolliculitis barbae due to the lack of evidence supporting an in-service injury or disease.

The Board granted service connection for GERD and headaches as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability, but denied service connection for a dental disability, jaw disability, hypertension, and TDIU. An effective date of December 18, 2020, was also granted.

The Board remands the claim for an addendum opinion regarding direct and secondary service connection of the Veteran's migraine headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for migraines, finding that her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating.

The veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review it.

The Board granted service connection for a skin disorder (tinea cruris) and an initial rating of 30 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome, but denied other claims including those for back disability, psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and various knee and ear conditions.

The Board granted an effective date of January 21, 2016, for the grant of service connection for unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and psychotic disorder, and a 50 percent disability rating for posttraumatic migraine headaches.

The appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to service connection for migraines was dismissed due to untimely filing.

The Board granted the restoration of a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches due to an approximate balance of evidence indicating that the Veteran's symptoms have remained stable.

The Board denied service connection for a headache disability and remanded the claim for a left knee disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, cervical degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities. A 30 percent rating was also granted for vertigo associated with TBI.

The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and increased the initial disability rating to 30 percent.