Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for acute sinusitis, extrinsic asthma, headaches, a low back condition, right leg numbness as secondary to a low back condition, left leg numbness as secondary to a low back condition, a right knee condition, and a left knee condition. The initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders and musculoskeletal issues, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted restoration of the 30 percent rating for bilateral metatarsalgia with flatfeet and headache syndrome, effective July 1, 2020.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent disability rating for migraine headaches with photophobia, finding that the Veteran's condition met the criteria for this rating.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, chronic headaches, and right knee disability. The claims for a compensable rating for an itchy linear scar coccyx status-post pilonidal cyst, rating in excess of 10 percent for a painful linear scar on the coccyx, and compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Board granted service connection for a headache disability, to include migraines and tension headaches, on a secondary basis due to the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and hypertension.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected headaches as they were not characterized by prostrating attacks occurring with a frequency of an average of once per two months over the last several months.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) but granted an effective date of June 8, 2021, for special monthly compensation (SMC) based upon housebound status and an increased 50 percent rating for service-connected migraine headaches.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, finding that they are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic fatigue syndrome was granted a 100% rating beginning September 11, 2019; gastroesophageal reflux disease with irritable bowel syndrome and psychiatric disability were granted ratings of 30% and 70%, respectively; chronic headaches were granted a 50% rating. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability was also granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, left and right hand disabilities, lumbar degenerative disc disease, left and right knee disabilities, hypertension, coronary artery disease, headache disability, vertigo, hiatal hernia/GERD, and effective date prior to June 28, 2018, for the award of service connection for other trauma and stressor-related disorder. The Board granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent, but no higher, for other trauma and stressor-related disorder and a TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for pancreas condition, digestive condition, and sleep apnea but denied service connection for headaches. The decision was based on the Veteran's exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for the right knee condition from September 2, 2021, and restored a 10 percent rating for the left hip, limitation of flexion disability effective October 2, 2023.

The Board remands the case to obtain a VA examination addressing the severity of hypertension and whether headaches are secondary to it.

The Board granted service connection for headaches and erectile dysfunction, both as secondary conditions associated with the Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung and respiratory conditions, personality disorder, and tinnitus, throat condition, obstructive sleep apnea, and migraine headaches were denied. However, the claim for an increased rating for PTSD was granted, as well as TDIU from February 27, 2018, to December 11, 2019.

The Board granted a 50 percent disability rating for migraines starting from November 7, 2023, but denied an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for the period from July 21, 2016, to November 7, 2023. The Board also remanded service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including heart disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder, dizziness, a headache disability, a gynecological disability, a left shoulder disability, and a low back disability, due to insufficient evidence.