Migraines & headaches decisions — 2026

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted based on his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The SMC housebound and aid and attendance claims are denied due to lack of evidence showing the need for regular aid and assistance.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of July 15, 2013 for the grant of service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted. The initial rating for a left shoulder disability remains at 20 percent. The claim for TDIU earlier than September 25, 2020 is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, and a traumatic brain injury condition are remanded due to procedural errors in scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and migraines have been granted. The effective date will be determined based on the Board's grant of direct service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, as there may be a pre-decisional error regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent and a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's PTSD is remanded for further development to determine if it warrants an increased rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's migraine headaches warrant a 30 percent rating, but no higher. The claims for bilateral pes planus, right knee chondromalacia patella, and GERD are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the need of personal care services, and his PCAFC request was denied. The Board finds that the AOJ did not provide proper notice and reasoning for the denial, and thus remands the case to obtain a new determination based on updated regulations.

The Board has denied service connection for migraines and a low back disorder as there is no current disability or recent diagnosis of such disorders prior to the Veteran's filing of her claim.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for migraine headaches is denied. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for CFS, GERD, and PTSD.,For the claims of service connection for CFS, GERD, and PTSD, the Board has also remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and headaches as of August 1, 2018. The decision is based on the Veteran's assertions that her conditions began during military service and are related to her service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. Service connection for a back disability, right knee limitation of flexion, bilateral shin splints, and chronic headaches were all granted with specific ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and anxiety) and headaches, as secondary to a psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support the claimed in-service stressor related to PTSD or establish a nexus between the current psychiatric disorders and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of headaches, finding no medical evidence linking his current headache disability to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring an addendum medical opinion and possibly a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's migraines are related to service.

Service connection for migraines was granted with an effective date of March 31, 2022. SMC at the housebound rate is denied as the Veteran does not meet the statutory rating criteria and has not shown he is permanently housebound due solely to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for service-connected tension headaches effective February 12, 2020. However, the issue of whether the Veteran is entitled to a higher than 30 percent rating remains pending and requires further examination.

The Board granted a 50 percent disability rating for service-connected migraine headaches, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's very frequent and prolonged attacks of headache pain were found to be productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and bilateral hearing loss are now rated at their maximum levels, with an effective date of April 22, 2019.

The Veteran is granted a higher level of SMC at the intermediary level N1/2 from October 20, 2020 to June 7, 2022. This decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.