Migraines & headaches decisions — 2026

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for headaches, sleep apnea, and sleep disturbances due to a violation of a claims-processing rule.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder is dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 2, 2023, for the establishment of service connection for tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded.,The Veteran's claims for a headache disorder and hypertension are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a heart disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been granted. Service connection is established for PFB, but not earlier than February 7, 2022. GERD remains rated at 10 percent. The other conditions remain denied.

The issue of an earlier effective date for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed as the Veteran's claim was already granted with a June 8, 2023, effective date and then later severed.,The earliest assignable effective dates for PTSD and migraines are April 11, 2024, as these claims were received within one year of the Veteran's June 8, 2023, intent to file (ITF).,Entitlement to earlier effective dates for service connection for PTSD and migraines is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher initial ratings, finding that the appropriate effective dates were June 6, 2022, for erectile dysfunction and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ, and June 1, 2021, for tension headaches. The right knee strain was granted an initial 10 percent rating with an earlier effective date of June 1, 2021, and GERD was denied any higher initial rating.

The Veteran's service-connected trauma disorder is found to aggravate his migraines, and the Board has granted service connection for migraines on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, GERD, right ankle strain, left ankle strain, low back condition, and sinusitis due to unclear etiology and internal inconsistencies in previous examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral feet disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, tinnitus, and headache disability.,There is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes. The Veteran's reported symptoms do not meet the criteria for a hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's migraines are not shown to be manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over the last several months, and therefore, the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are as likely as not related to his active-duty service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, including as secondary to PTSD, due to inadequate opinions and a need for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral dry eye syndrome, headaches, OSA, and tinnitus. Service connection is granted for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss are not supported by the evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches and their secondary effects. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were aggravated by military service.

The Board has denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, but has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbosacral strain, migraines, and irritable bowel syndrome due to insufficient evidence in the March 2020 VA examination.

The Board has ordered the remand of the claim due to inadequate VA examinations, and the Veteran's lay reports will be considered in determining the severity of his service-connected tension headache disorder.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for migraines is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including consideration of alcohol abuse disorder with depressive features and insomnia, is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in predecisional duty to assist, including failing to obtain private medical records and providing inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran's migraines may be related to his service-connected tinnitus or hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. Specifically, additional medical opinions are needed regarding the severity of his back disability without medication effects, the nature and etiology of his headaches, and the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches effective from February 21, 2012. The claim was pending due to the addition of new and material evidence during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including hip disabilities and radiculopathies, have been granted with effective dates of November 12, 2020.,Claims for earlier effective dates were denied for prostate cancer, reduction of the penis with erectile dysfunction (as secondary to prostate cancer), asthma, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knees, hypertension, stable angina, and CFS.