Migraines & headaches decisions — 2026

The Veteran's adjustment disorder and migraine headaches have been granted service connection, but a higher rating for these conditions is denied.,Service connection has also been established for left knee pain, right knee pain, and lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's iron deficiency anemia has not resulted in the required treatment with intravenous iron infusions.

The Veteran's claims for a 100% rating for major depressive disorder and a 50% rating for migraines, along with SMC based on aid and attendance, have been granted effective June 10, 2024. The earlier effective dates of September 28, 2021 for the major depressive disorder and January 17, 2022 for the migraines are also confirmed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to obtain an opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's disabilities and their relation to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to his election to opt into the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system as a supplemental claim, leaving the Board without jurisdiction in the Legacy Appeal System.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been granted. The appeal is dismissed for the other issues.

The Board has granted a 50% rating for migraines and denied service connection for rhinitis. The Veteran's migraines are rated as very frequent, prostrating attacks that cause severe economic inadaptability. However, there is no current diagnosis of rhinitis.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50 percent, the highest schedular rating available under DC 8100. The Board finds that the Veteran's very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks of headache pain meet the criteria for a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran seeks a higher rating for his service-connected migraine condition. The VA examiner's report is incomplete as it did not address the ameliorative effect of the medication on the symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder, migraine including migraine variants, obstructive sleep apnea, and right leg varicose veins. The diagnoses are related to the Veteran's in-service experiences and/or his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to inadequate examinations. The VA is required to provide an adequate examination in this case.

The Board has determined that the Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT) incorrectly concluded that the Veteran did not require personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months. The CEAT review was based on an inability to perform ADLs, but failed to consider evidence suggesting the need for supervision or protection due to neurological impairment. A new medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran requires personal care services and whether he has a need for supervision or protection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the evaluation of the Veteran's migraines. The matter is now pending for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for migraine headaches remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, loss of concentration, and a sleep disorder that are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus. The decision is based on an approximately even balance of evidence supporting the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's migraines did not begin during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for chronic migraine headaches, effective from September 19, 2019. The Veteran's migraines are characterized by very frequent and prolonged attacks that cause severe economic inadaptability.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because the increase in disability occurred more than one year before the claim was filed, and the earliest possible effective date is August 19, 2022.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraines, and GERD due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for migraines has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran was granted an increased disability evaluation of 50 percent for migraine headaches effective October 24, 2023. The effective date is set at the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in severity occurred.