Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for GERD and remanded the claim for a compensable rating for atypical headaches.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain and left and right shoulder strains, but denied service connection for migraines.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded certain claims.

The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, left ankle disability, jaw disability, left knee disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, migraine headaches, cervical spine disc bulging at C5-C6 and C6-C7, radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities, tinnitus, and rhinitis. However, service connection was granted for sleep disturbances (diagnosed as sleep disorder due to mental disorder).

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches.

The appeal was dismissed by the Veteran's representative on January 22, 2025.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board remands the claim for a compensable rating for migraines including migraine variants due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied a higher initial rating in excess of 30 percent for the service-connected migraine headaches from June 5, 2020.

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for the Veteran's service-connected headaches and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Board remands the claim for service connection for migraine headaches due to an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for a headache disability and an increased rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for GERD with IBS.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a compensable disability evaluation for migraine headaches and an increased rating for adjustment disorder with depressed mood due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete medical records.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including migraines, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, ankle disability, back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, scars on the head, neck, or face, and tinnitus, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for migraine headaches, bilateral leg venous insufficiency (secondary to anemia/pregnancy), and blood clots as premature appeals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for service-connected headaches and dismissed the appeal regarding the propriety of a proposed reduction in the evaluation of right pneumothorax from 20 percent to 0 percent.

The appeal as to the proposal to reduce the disability rating for lumbosacral strain, from 40 percent to 20 percent is dismissed. The matters of service connection for migraine headaches and neck strain are remanded.

The Board granted service connection for back disability and migraine headaches, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD with MDD, and assigned a 50 percent rating. The effective date for the increased rating of PTSD with MDD and DEA benefits was set at June 17, 2019.

The Board remands the issues of an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, and service connection for sinusitis and headaches as secondary to allergic rhinitis due to inadequate VA examinations.