Migraines & headaches decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for service-connected tension headaches has been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing their appeal prior to the Board issuing an erroneous decision in October 2024.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted service connection as of November 9, 2017. The Board found the evidence to be at least evenly balanced in favor of the Veteran, who claimed his current condition began during active duty.

The Board has determined that the April 2021 VA examination is inadequate to rate the Veteran's tension headaches and PTSD. Therefore, a remand is necessary to obtain updated private treatment records and conduct new examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on statutory housebound status due to her service-connected conditions and additional nonservice-connected disabilities, finding that she did not meet the criteria for SMC.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome was dismissed. The claim for service connection for migraine headaches, secondary to previously service-connected tinnitus and peripheral vestibular disorder, is granted with a rating of 10 percent. The claim for a higher rating for peripheral vestibular disorder remains at noncompensable (zero percent).

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches has been dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle condition, right ankle condition, diarrhea, and migraine headaches as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or causal relationship to military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for headaches prior to June 2, 2020 is denied. The Board found that the earliest indication of headaches associated with tinnitus was in August 2022, and thus a claim for secondary service connection for headaches was not reasonably raised at any point prior to the June 2, 2020, claim.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 30% from May 4, 2011, to August 27, 2019. The rating was increased to 60% on September 25, 2019, and then to 100% effective that same day.,The Veteran is granted SMC at the housebound rate from December 7, 2018, to September 24, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates as they were received more than one year after her intent to file a claim, and no good cause extension was requested.

The Veteran's claims for depression, insomnia, migraine headaches with dizziness, obstructive sleep apnea, left ear hearing loss, seizure disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder are all granted. The service connection is presumed based on in-service exposure to tear gas.

The Board has restored service connection for TBI, head scar, and migraine headaches due to the AOJ's improper severance of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being reviewed for higher ratings in several areas, including PTSD, BHL, and tinnitus. The VA has not obtained all relevant private treatment records from the Veteran's private medical provider (K.P.) and has not provided adequate VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment for the entire applicable appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for vertigo and migraine headaches due to duty-to-assist errors, requiring new VA opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for meningitis residuals and headaches, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated with new evidence considered.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating for migraines and TDIU has been dismissed. The Veteran's claim for an initial 60 percent disability rating for GERD is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for headaches, including consideration of entitlement to a total disability rating predicated upon service-connected disabilities prior to September 25, 2025, is being remanded due to outstanding mental health treatment records. The Board will attempt to obtain these records and review them in the adjudication process.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder due to medical condition, which is related to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus with tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. The rating assigned is 100 percent.