Migraines & headaches decisions — 2026

The Veteran's motions to revise the July 27, 2009, Rating Decision were denied. The claims for service connection for a headache disability, sinusitis (claimed as rhinitis), an immune deficiency disability (claimed as irritable bowel syndrome), and chronic fatigue syndrome were not granted due to lack of clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal as to the issues of entitlement to increased disability ratings for left foot metatarsalgia, tinnitus, left wrist disability, right foot plantar warts, and for service connection for right foot plantar warts at a September 2024 hearing. Service connection was granted for migraines.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was denied, and his claims for right knee, left knee, right hand, left hand, GERD, neck disability, and bilateral hearing loss were also denied. The effective date of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted on December 14, 2022.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates earlier than July 18, 2024, for the awards of service connection for tinnitus, tension headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome have been dismissed.

The Veteran's cervical radiculopathy, right upper extremity, is rated at 40 percent and cannot be increased.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent and cannot be increased.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are already at the maximum schedular rating of 50%.

The Board denied service connection for treatment purposes only under Chapter 17 for various conditions, including cervical spine condition, right upper extremity nerve condition, left upper extremity nerve condition, headache condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, right elbow condition, left elbow condition, right shoulder condition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), bilateral pes planus, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder, right ear hearing loss, migraine headaches, and bilateral foot conditions have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection was also denied for tinnitus.

The Veteran's post-traumatic headaches are currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and there is no evidence to support a higher rating. The Board has determined that an extraschedular evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's cerviogenic migraines were remanded for an addendum VA examination to assess the severity of his condition prior to June 19, 2018, without considering the ameliorative effects of any medication.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as the new evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of establishing his entitlement to TDIU. The Board found that the VA treatment records generated in the year following the September 2017 rating decision were cumulative or redundant and did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for tension and migraine headaches is remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2020 VA examination report, which did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations regarding his claimed conditions.

The appellant is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits, effective September 1, 2020.

The Veteran's tension headaches, which have been service-connected since the grant of service connection, are found to be very frequent and completely prostrating with prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The Board grants an initial 50 percent rating for tension headaches prior to December 1, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and PTSD), and Parkinson's disease. The conditions are presumed to be due to exposure in service.,Service connection is established for all four claimed conditions.

The Veteran's deviated nasal septum was granted service connection. The claims for anxiety and sleep disturbance, erectile dysfunction, headaches, acid reflux, hypertension (high blood pressure), irritable bowel syndrome, and jaw condition were denied.

The Veteran's effective date for service connection of left leg amputation and associated scars, as well as SMC based on loss of use of the left leg, is set to January 28, 2022. The effective date for DEA eligibility is also set to January 28, 2022. An effective date prior to January 28, 2022, was denied for service connection of chronic headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, recurrent kidney disability, and recurrent headache disability due to a pre-decisional error in failing to provide VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability is granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, stomach disability, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to the need for VA examinations and medical opinions.