Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder and awarded special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance. The issue of entitlement to SMC based on housebound status was dismissed, and the claim for SMC based on loss of use was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for posttraumatic headaches, as the evidence did not show characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over the last several months.

The Board granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, allergic rhinitis, and migraine headaches but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities, dismissed the appeal seeking service connection for sleep apnea, and remanded the claim for service connection for headaches.

The Board granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, a left ankle disability, a gastrointestinal disability as secondary to a psychiatric disorder, and a migraine headache rating of 50 percent. The earlier effective date claim was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher initial ratings for various service-connected conditions, including PTSD, posttraumatic headaches, painful scars of the posterior skull, and scars of the posterior skull.

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent for migraines from July 7, 2023, to July 18, 2024, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The veteran withdrew the appeal concerning multiple issues, including PTSD, pes planus, cervical strain and degenerative arthritis, and posttraumatic headaches.

The Board granted separate ratings for irritable bowel syndrome and headaches, but denied a higher rating for fibromyalgia.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, myasthenia gravis with right upper extremity muscle weakness, and others.

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

The Board denied service connection for a vision disability and remanded claims for back, neck, headache, ankle, respiratory, and dental disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for migraines as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 50 percent disability rating for migraine headaches and remanded issues related to a higher rating, service connection for blurry vision, and total unemployability.

The Board granted an increased initial rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected mood disorder due to known physiological condition, with major depressive-like episodes, and also granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to this condition. Additionally, TDIU was granted.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea but denied a compensable rating for tension headaches.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for left knee and migraine disabilities, as well as higher ratings for these conditions.

The Board granted an initial 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain and a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches, effective September 1, 2018.

The Board granted restoration of the 50 percent evaluation for cluster headaches effective from May 1, 2023, and an initial 10 percent evaluation for asthma.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals related to service connection and higher rating for various conditions, including PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the spine, eczema, left ankle disorder, migraine headaches, and nose bleeds.