Migraines & headaches decisions — 2026

The Board dismissed the appeals concerning service connection for back disorder, joint and muscle pain, asthma, and joint and muscle pain. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for migraines was granted.

The Veteran's request to withdraw the right wrist fracture claim has been granted, resulting in its dismissal.,The Veteran's request to withdraw the hemorrhoids claim has been granted, resulting in its dismissal.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD, unspecified depression with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder, and migraine headaches due to conflicting evidence regarding a diagnosis of PTSD. Additional development is needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act. The claims for headaches, lumbar back disability, sciatic radiculopathy, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's tension headaches resulted in characteristic prostrating attacks at least once a month, qualifying for a 30% rating. However, the Board found that these did not meet the criteria for a higher 50% rating due to prolonged and severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea (including as secondary to tinnitus), diabetes mellitus, and migraine headaches due to potential new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has already granted a TDIU based on service-connected migraine headaches, effective September 1, 2010. As the benefit sought is fully granted, this issue is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to concurrent elections of review options.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tension headaches was granted with an effective date of August 5, 2013.,A TDIU based on service-connected tension headaches was granted with an effective date of June 1, 2014.,SMC on a statutory housebound basis was granted with an effective date of June 1, 2014.,SMC based on aid and attendance (prior to October 9, 2015) was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his migraine headaches, psychiatric disorder, low back disorder, and left hip disorder. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

Right upper and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndromes, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis are granted.,Right hand disability is denied. Bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, shin splints in both lower limbs, hallux valgus in both feet, and bilateral plantar fasciitis with calcaneal heel spurs are all granted initial ratings or effective dates prior to July 27, 2021.,GERD is granted an initial rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's panic attacks and chest pain are attributable to his service-connected PTSD and heart disability, respectively. The symptomatology is already contemplated in the evaluations for those disabilities.,The Veteran's chronic headaches more nearly approximate characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over the last several months.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all the listed conditions before a decision was made.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of migraine headaches due to conflicting medical opinions and unclear relationship with service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, finding no evidence of a factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to his intent to file claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The issues of headaches, hearing loss, tinnitus, neck strain, hypertension, left lower extremity deep vein thrombosis with pulmonary embolism, and myocardial infarction are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions including Athlete's foot, allergic rhinitis, lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, fallen arches, migraines (headaches) condition, and an acquired psychological condition. The Veteran's claims are not currently addressed as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinion relied upon in the January 2021 decision was insufficient and incomplete, particularly regarding whether the Veteran's migraine headaches were aggravated by his service-connected depression. The case is being remanded for an addendum opinion to address this issue.