Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, restored the 50 percent rating for migraines effective July 28, 2021, and granted an effective date of July 1, 2014 for service connection for vertigo. Other issues were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for a new medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's migraines headaches are related to service or secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for headaches as the weight of evidence did not support characteristic prostrating attacks.

The Board granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities and a psychiatric disorder, but denied service connection for Raynaud's disease, muscle pain, degenerative arthritis, peripheral neuropathy of the ulnar and musculocutaneous nerves in both upper extremities, squamous cell carcinoma, and migraines.

The veteran withdrew the appeal concerning service connection for dizziness, sleep apnea, and sleep disturbance, as well as a higher disability rating for migraines.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for hearing loss. The appeal was remanded for further action regarding the initial disability ratings for headaches, left and right lower extremity stress fractures.

The Board granted an effective date of August 21, 2019, for the assignment of a 100 percent rating for PTSD with depressive disorder and granted service connection for headaches and vertigo as secondary to the service-connected PTSD.

The Board granted an effective date of October 29, 2016, for the award of a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with panic disorder but denied earlier effective dates and service connection for other conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for a rating greater than 30 percent for post-traumatic headaches as the evidence did not show completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The appeal of the proposed reduction from 50 percent to 10 percent for service-connected PTSD with MDD and TBI, as well as the appeal of the proposed discontinuance of Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35, are dismissed.

The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for tension headaches and dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a procedural defect.

The Board granted an effective date of June 4, 2012, for the award of service connection for migraine headaches.

The Board granted readjudication of service connection for migraine headaches based on new and relevant evidence, and an earlier effective date of December 3, 2017 for the initial rating awards for tardive dyskinesia. The claims for higher ratings for tardive dyskinesia were denied, and the issues of service connection for migraine headaches and a higher rating for bipolar I disorder were remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and ratings of erectile dysfunction, tinnitus, and PTSD, as well as higher ratings for tinnitus, migraine headaches, and PTSD with TBI. The Board also denied service connection for sleep apnea and ADHD, and remanded the matter of entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board denied an increased rating for migraine headaches and GERD, but granted a separate 10 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, while remanding the claims for erectile dysfunction and a headache disorder.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, finding that the evidence was in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's migraine headaches began during active service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for entitlement to a compensable disability evaluation for migraine headaches and service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral hips due to lack of jurisdiction over CUE claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or additional compensation.

The Board remands the claim for an adequate medical examination to determine if a higher evaluation may be warranted based on the Veteran's reported headache symptomatology.