Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder, adjustment insomnia, and migraine headaches but denied it for sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and migraines secondary to TBI.

The Board denied the motion for revision of the July 31, 2008 Rating Decision on the basis that it did not contain clear and unmistakable error.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches prior to January 26, 2022.

The appeal of the proposed reduction in disability rating from 50 percent to 30 percent for migraine headaches is dismissed, and entitlements to an initial compensable rating for mouth and tongue aphthous ulcers, increased rating for left eye old branch retinal artery occlusion with glaucoma, and higher level of special monthly compensation are denied. The service connection claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) claimed as acid reflux and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for various conditions to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the December 2022 decision on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased 50 percent rating for service-connected migraine headaches, finding that there was no evidence of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability prior to January 26, 2022.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee condition, and headaches due to the Veteran's failure to confirm his intent to proceed with a Board appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic headaches was previously adjudicated in a December 1970 rating decision, which he did not appeal. The disability was recharacterized and rated under a different diagnostic code, leading to the grant of a separate service connection rating effective October 26, 2017.

The motion for revision or reversal of a Board decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) was dismissed because the surviving spouse lacked standing.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider all manifestations of hypertension, including headaches and renal problems. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a tonsil disability was denied. The claims for back, right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, and headache disabilities were remanded for further examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus was denied, but the effective date for service connection of tinnitus was granted as December 1, 2015. Service connection for hypertension was also granted.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's loss of sight in the left eye, blood clot in the eye, and headaches because there was no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.

The Board denied all claims, including earlier effective dates for service connection of mild cognitive disorder and migraine headaches, a compensable rating for residuals of internal carotid aneurysm clip, and higher ratings for mild cognitive disorder and migraine headaches.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and migraines due to errors in the duty to assist.

The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, left hand condition, right hand condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and right wrist condition were denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, was remanded.

The veteran's service connection for migraine headaches, including migraine variants, as secondary to PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder is granted.

Service connection for sinusitis, cervical spine arthritis, and upper extremity radiculopathy was denied. Service connection for OSA, headaches, vertigo, and lumbar spine arthritis was remanded.

The appeal for an initial compensable rating for headaches is remanded. The Board found issues with the VA examination and ordered a new one to clarify the nature and severity of the veteran's headaches.