Migraines & headaches decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's disability is etiologically related to his active service. The other claims were remanded due to inadequate development of the record.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and an initial rating of 30 percent for headaches, but denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for headaches.

The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and service connection, but granted service connection for a left knee condition.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected migraines and remanded the claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, to include plantar fasciitis, pes planus, and pes cavus.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, headaches, and hypertension as additional development is required to clarify whether the Veteran's claimed insomnia can be characterized as a separate disability for VA compensation purposes and, if so, whether it is due to his active service or caused/aggravated by another service-connected disability, including service-connected tinnitus. The Board also remands the claims for service connection for headaches and hypertension as they are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for insomnia.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including radiculopathy of the left upper and lower extremities, bilateral knee scars, a headache condition, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for service-connected tension headaches due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error requiring additional clarification.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted a rating of 10 percent, but not higher, prior to March 22, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, a left knee condition, and a low back condition as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for ocular migraines as the evidence did not show characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over the last several months.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease to include spondylosis and denied increased ratings for other conditions, while remanding claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder and left hand tremors.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease to include spondylosis, but denied increased ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the knees and allergic rhinitis. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, and psychiatric disorder were also denied.

The Board granted the restoration of a 70% rating for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder and other specified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, effective July 1, 2021. The claims for an initial rating in excess of 30% for migraines (headaches) from November 1, 2021, and a compensable rating for hypertension were denied.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and migraine headaches, as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or a direct link to service. The claim for skin cancer was remanded.

The Board denied an effective date earlier than May 20, 2024 for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome and headaches.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, to include migraines and asthma as there was no evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating higher than 0 percent for tension headaches, as the evidence did not show characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months.

The Board remands the claim for a headache disorder to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's condition, including its potential relationship to service and secondary connection to tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including anxiety and depression, right shoulder strain, right knee pain, neck pain, hearing loss disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, sinus disorder, right lower extremity neurological disorder, left lower extremity neurological disorder, right toenail paronychia, and headaches.