Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, compensable ratings, and service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks for tension headaches, considerable impairment of health for GERD, a current disability for an abdominal disorder or gynecological disorder, and functional impairment for a right wrist disorder.

The Board granted service connection for left ankle collateral ligament sprain and left shoulder strain with an effective date of February 2, 2020. Service connection was also granted for headaches. The Board denied earlier effective dates for bilateral shin splints and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, but granted a 10 percent rating for bilateral shin splints.

The Board remands the matter for an additional VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected headache disability and to obtain any outstanding medical records.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, tinnitus, and GERD due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The Veteran's other specified traumatic and stressor related disorder was rated at 70%, hypertension and other headaches were not rated compensably, and effective dates prior to March 11, 2020, and November 12, 2021, for service connection were denied.

The Board granted service connection for headaches and left knee strain and recurrent left knee patellar dislocation, but denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right hand disability, bilateral ankle disability, residuals of heat stroke, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The lower back condition and headaches were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a gastrointestinal disability, anal fissure and hemorrhoids, headache disability, temporomandibular disability, rhinitis, sinusitis, and STD, to provide the Veteran with VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder (MDD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected colon cancer. The claims for asbestosis, headaches, right foot pain, right hand pain, and stomach rash were remanded for further development.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for migraines, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disability did not increase in severity to warrant such a rating prior to January 22, 2024.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a headache disorder, and vasovagal syncope to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claim for a new medical opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's headaches, as the previous opinions were found inadequate.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a headache disability to obtain an addendum opinion that applies the correct legal standard regarding pre-existing conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA opinion to address whether the Veteran's migraines headaches are caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating greater than 30 percent for service-connected migraine headaches due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board dismissed the AMA appeal for entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for trigeminal cranial nerve paralysis and entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for headaches due to a procedural defect.

The Board remands the claim for a higher disability rating for sinus, tension, and migraine headaches due to an incomplete duty to assist.

The Board granted an effective date of August 5, 2019, for the award of a 30 percent rating for migraines.

The appeal of service connection for migraines was dismissed due to a procedural defect, as the notice of disagreement was not filed within one year of the initial denial.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for eczema, migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and tinnitus.