Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for nonspecific headaches due to their very frequent, prostrating, and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches due to a need to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted a rating of 10 percent for migraines with aura from May 20, 2022, to February 20, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for a migraine disability, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was permanently aggravated beyond its natural progression due to in-service injury. Service connection for a right ankle disability was denied.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's back disability and service connection for cervical spine and chronic sinusitis disabilities, while denying increased ratings for tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, migraines, and dyspnea on exertion.

The Board denied service connection for a headache disability on a direct basis, as the evidence did not support that it had an onset during active duty or manifested to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period.

The Board denied service connection for GERD and remanded the claims for service connection for left and right shin splints, headaches, left and right hips, and left and right feet for further development of evidence.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for tension headaches to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding its etiology, specifically addressing whether it is related to the Veteran's service or his service-connected lumbar disc injury.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or housebound status due to a lack of evidence regarding his need for such assistance.

The Board granted a 50 percent evaluation for the Veteran's migraine headaches, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's PFB is granted a greater 60 percent rating, while other conditions such as eczema scarring, erectile dysfunction, IBS, and migraine headaches are denied higher ratings. Service connection for stroke from burn pit exposure and damaged liver is also denied.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of January 10, 2012, for the grants of service connection for other specified trauma related disorder with bipolar disorder with depressed episode and migraine headaches.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for left and right trapezius/shoulder disorders, migraine headaches, and lumbar strain due to improper form submissions.

The appeals for service connection for sleep apnea and migraine headaches were dismissed due to untimely filings, while the appeal for a higher rating of 70 percent for PTSD and MDD was denied.

The Board granted an effective date of August 28, 2020, for the award of service connection for vestibular migraines with vertigo and denied a higher initial rating for the condition while granting a separate, initial 30 percent rating for vertigo associated with it.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD, migraines, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for migraine and tension headaches, a rating greater than 50 percent for residuals of traumatic brain injury with MDD, adjustment disorder with anxiety, and PTSD, and a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches are granted a disability rating of 50 percent, but no higher, from December 15, 2020.

The Board granted an initial 50 percent rating for service-connected migraines from May 10, 2021, to January 2, 2024, but denied a rating in excess of 50 percent. The other claims were either denied or remanded.

The Board remands the claim to properly verify the appellant's claimed service and clarify with the Department of Defense such service, including submitting his contentions for consideration.