Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board granted an effective date of December 31, 2019, for the 50 percent disability evaluation of service-connected migraine headaches.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for right ankle surgical scars but granted a separate 10 percent rating for painful right ankle surgical scars. The Board also denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with amphetamine use disorder.

The Board granted service connection for a neck condition, bilateral shoulder condition, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and cervical vertigo.

The Board remands the claim for a new medical opinion to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's migraine headaches, as the previous VA opinion was found inadequate due to reliance on an outdated standard.

The Board denied a compensable rating for left knee instability status post dislocation, restored the 10 percent rating for left knee limitation of motion status post dislocation and right knee strain, and denied restoration of a rating in excess of 0 percent for tension headaches. The claim for service connection for GERD was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include anxiety, depression, severe alcohol use disorder and moderate cocaine use disorder due to military sexual trauma (MST), and granted increased ratings for certain service-connected disabilities. The claim for dizziness was dismissed, as was the entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for alcohol use disorder and triphasic sleep disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, increased the rating for LEFT ankle traumatic arthritis to 30 percent, and denied increased ratings for various knee disabilities. The decision also remanded several other issues for further development.

The Board granted service connection for left and right pes planus with foot pain, as well as an increased rating of 50 percent for migraines including migraine variants.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all claims, including a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and service connection for various other conditions.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for headaches for further development, including obtaining a new VA opinion to address medical records showing the Veteran had headaches associated with hypertension.

The Board granted the reopening of claims for scalp and head scars and headaches, but denied service connection for a traumatic brain injury. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board remands the appeal for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a new medical opinion on the severity of the Veteran's migraine headaches.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of December 1, 2022 for the award of service connection for tension headaches.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches based on the severity and frequency of the attacks, which are productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for tension headaches.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis of the thoracolumbar spine and a compensable rating for unspecified headache.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, but denied a compensable initial rating for migraines.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on housebound status from September 16, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right shoulder conditions, migraines, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine condition, and knee conditions, as there was no evidence of a current disability or that the claimed disabilities were related to service.

The Board granted an effective date of September 15, 2022, for the grant of service connection for migraine headaches and denied higher ratings for tinnitus, hypertension, and PTSD.