Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claim for an initial compensable disability rating prior to May 17, 2021, for the service-connected migraine headaches due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's earlier effective date for service connection for tension headaches is granted as he continuously pursued the claim since January 10, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD with OCD and alcohol use disorder was granted an initial rating of 70 percent prior to June 25, 2020.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches but denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder (MDD) and denied an increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for migraine headaches and sleep apnea, as these issues were not addressed in any rating decision during the appeal period. The claim for an increased initial rating for a mental health condition was remanded for further development.

The Board granted new and relevant evidence for the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, and right knee pain. The claims for a cervical spine disability, head injury, headaches, lumbar spine arthritis, and right hip arthritis were denied.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected chronic post-traumatic headaches, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 and remanded claims for service connection for headaches and the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining issues, including various psychiatric disorders, middle back injury, ankle disabilities, knee disabilities, neuropathies, hearing loss, and headaches.

The Board denied service connection for a broken nose, deviated septum, low back disability, left foot numbness, right foot numbness, sinus disability, left elbow and forearm disability, left knee disability, and right shoulder strain. Service connection was granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and left hamstring strain. The Board also denied an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder with residuals of a traumatic brain injury, an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches, an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for fibromyalgia, and an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea. The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as a result of service-connected disabilities prior to December 1, 2023.

The Board granted an initial 50 percent rating for tension and vascular headaches prior to September 6, 2019, but denied a higher rating thereafter.

The Board granted service connection for migraines as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with PTSD and impaired sexual functioning, but remanded other claims related to eye, hip, shoulder, and elbow disorders.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a higher rating for migraine headaches, and a compensable rating for tinea corporis of the left elbow.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for GERD, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine, including migraine variants, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea, resolving any reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied an earlier effective date and a compensable rating for migraines, but remanded the issue of service connection for TBI.

The Board granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and earlier effective dates for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and deviated nasal septum (DNS), dating the claims back to March 1995.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that his condition was not aggravated by active military service.

The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for a left knee disability and service connection for various conditions due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.