Migraines & headaches decisions — 2026

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 100% effective May 17, 2022.,Effective October 26, 2022, the Veteran is eligible for SMC based on statutory housebound status due to his combined disability rating of 60%.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The claims for service connection on all listed conditions are not before the Board.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches is granted as the evidence shows that he has a current diagnosis of migraine and/or tension headaches, which have been continuously symptomatic since his separation from active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence of a link between his claimed conditions and service. The Board will seek further clarification or evidence.

The Board denied effective dates prior to March 15, 2022, for the grants of service connection for various conditions including gunshot wound with residual scars, traumatic brain injury, headaches, fifth cranial nerve damage, seventh cranial nerve damage, left eye disorder, and brain hemorrhage.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a headache disorder was dismissed as moot. Effective dates of March 14, 2020 were granted for the establishment of service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy and right lower extremity neuropathy. The appeals for service connection for left and right lower extremity vascular disorders, allergic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis were denied as they were not filed within one year prior to the effective dates assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and tinnitus, have caused him to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has found that the criteria for a TDIU are met.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and migraine headaches are granted service connection.,Service connection is granted for generalized anxiety disorder with an initial rating of 70 percent.,Heart disease, hypertension, and sleep apnea remain remanded for further review.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at a minimum of 10 percent, and the Board finds that she meets the criteria for this rating. The TDIU claim was denied as her service-connected disabilities do not render her incapable of securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial claim for migraine including migraine variants and tension was granted with an effective date of October 8, 2019. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at 100 percent since March 25, 2024. Service connection for low back disability, OSA, peripheral vascular disease, varicose veins, and radiculopathy was granted with an effective date of March 25, 2024. The Veteran's TDIU, SMC, and DEA claims are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for headaches, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical evidence.

The appeal for service connection of cluster headaches, bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are remanded to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The remaining issues are remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at a 30 percent rating, effective October 31, 2024. The Board found that the Veteran experienced characteristic prostrating attacks of migraine or non-migraine pain occurring on average once a month over the last several months.

The Board has determined that the December 9, 2019 VA Form 9 was timely filed in response to a February 23, 2018 SOC. The underlying appeals for service connection have been reinstated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraines are related to his service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's migraines are granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The Board has also remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the remaining issues.

The Veteran's headaches associated with traumatic brain injury have manifested symptoms analogous to frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting an initial rating of 50 percent for headaches.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee condition, right knee condition, and headache condition. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.