Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for IBS, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, GERD, sleep apnea, and back disability with a 50% rating for headaches. The claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, knee disabilities, shoulder disabilities, wrist disability, and hand disability were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a right hip disability, left ankle disability, chronic fatigue syndrome (secondary to service-connected disabilities), an acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified depressive disorder secondary to service-connected disabilities), and headaches (secondary to service-connected disabilities). It also granted ratings of 20 percent or less for various knee and hip conditions.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, but denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for TBI with a psychiatric disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for headaches and hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions and a need to consider evidence of toxic exposure risk activities under the PACT Act.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral pes planus. Service connection was denied for acid erosion of the facial posterior teeth and bruxism. The claims for Vitamin D deficiency, Vitamin B-12 deficiency, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic muscle and joint pain, right testicle pain and discomfort, and left testicle pain and discomfort were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for unspecified general headache and remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board granted service connection for headaches, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to traumatic brain injuries sustained during his active service.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, lower back disorder, migraines, right plantar fasciitis, and left pelvis stress fracture but granted service connection for left plantar fasciitis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as correctable evidence was not obtained and VA examinations were inadequate.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for headaches, lumbar spine disability, and nerve condition of the right lower extremity due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and remanded the claims for service connection, increased ratings, and other issues.

The Board granted service connection for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy but denied increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and IVDS, a scar associated with it, and dismissed claims for other conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria.

The Board denied service connection for a headache disability as the evidence did not support the existence of a current disability at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Board granted an effective date of February 19, 2020, for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, along with other disabilities, have prevented her from obtaining and maintaining substantial and gainful employment, warranting an award of extraschedular TDIU and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate effective February 17, 2022.

The Board granted an initial 50 percent rating for a migraine headache disability effective March 2, 2022.

The Board dismissed the issues of service connection for GERD, hepatitis, nausea, a stomach disability, strep throat, and bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for tension headache and remanded the claims for service connection for unspecified abdominal pain, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, low back disorder, left leg paralysis of the sciatic nerve (secondary to a service-connected condition), left foot plantar fasciitis (secondary to a service-connected condition), and tinnitus.

The Board granted an effective date of October 20, 2021 for the grant of service connection for migraines and a TDIU, but denied earlier effective dates for hearing loss and PTSD.