Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily migraines with tension headaches, rendered him unemployable from July 25, 2023, and he is eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits starting the same date. He also qualifies for special monthly compensation based on housebound status as of October 9, 2023.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and dismissed the claim for service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease. The claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, headache disability, and obstructive sleep apnea were remanded.

The appeal was withdrawn and dismissed for hearing loss, a headache disability, joint pain, memory loss, and fatigue. Tinnitus was granted due to service connection. Other issues were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, bilateral foot disability, lumbar spine disability, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea. The effective date of March 2, 2022, was granted for the award of service connection for rhinitis, and a 70 percent rating was assigned for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, insomnia, memory loss, and TBI residuals.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for hypertension and tension headaches due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted an initial 50 percent evaluation for service-connected cluster headaches and denied service connection for hearing loss, while granting service connection for a right lateral collateral ligament sprain as secondary to the left ankle disability and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for a low back condition and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy but denied service connection for tinnitus. The Board also granted ratings in the form of effective dates for certain conditions, while denying increased ratings.

The Board granted service connection for headaches and lumbar spine disability, while denying service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI), sciatica radicular pain hypoesthesia, paresthesia of the left lower extremity (LLE) and right lower extremity (RLE), cervical spine disability, radicular pain hypoesthesia, paresthesia of the left upper extremity (LUE) and right upper extremity (RUE), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), third digit of left hand, pain, third digit of right hand, pain, degenerative joint disease with impingement syndrome, right shoulder status post arthroscopy, left shoulder strain, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, and onychomycosis.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's trauma disorder but denied an increased evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his migraine headaches.

The appeal was dismissed as the Board granted service connection for tension headaches, making further appellate consideration unnecessary.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines for the period prior to July 18, 2023, are granted a 50 percent disability rating due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a male reproductive system disorder, GERD, sleep disorder, headache disorder, and hearing loss disorder due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for the service-connected scar, status-post appendectomy, but denied all other claims for increased ratings and service connection.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches and a right knee disability, diagnosed as medial meniscus tear and degenerative arthritis.

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

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for migraines due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease, but denied service connection for fatigue and a compensable rating for headaches prior to May 19, 2021. For the period from May 19, 2021, a 30 percent rating was granted for headaches.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches and a gastrointestinal disability, to include GERD, IBS, constipation, and gastritis.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea and migraines, but remanded the claims for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence.