Migraines & headaches decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for chronic migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active service. The evidence shows a history of chronic headaches since 2013 during service and a VA physician provided an opinion supporting this relationship.,Service connection was also granted for low back pain with degenerative arthritis. The Board found that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service, noting consistent reports of back pain starting shortly after separation from active duty.

The Board has granted effective dates of June 22, 2023 for the service connection of migraines, adjustment disorder with anxiety, and bilateral tinnitus.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 50 percent, the maximum rating available under DC 8100. The Board found that his symptoms met the criteria for very prostrating and prolonged attacks of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at a 50% disability rating, effective from the date of this decision. The claim for an increased rating is granted for the period prior to July 25, 2019, and denied thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities, but remanded the issue of service connection for a headache disability due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and migraines headaches as there is no persuasive evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraines. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's migraines have been rated at a 30 percent since February 14, 2023. The Board found that the Veteran experienced characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over several months, warranting this rating.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 30 percent disability rating, but no higher. The evidence is in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran experienced characteristic prostrating attacks of migraine headache pain on average once a month over the last several months.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for service-connected migraine headaches and an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected multiple sclerosis have been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations scheduled for the Veteran were not substantially complied with, and thus the appeal must be remanded to schedule appropriate VA examinations closer to the Veteran's home.

The Veteran's claimed residuals due to a February 24, 2012 VA spinal tap are not considered new or additional disabilities caused by VA treatment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his headaches, including migraine and tension headaches, is denied. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on PTSD with MDD and GAD with TBI.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete authorization of private medical records and further development is needed.

The Veteran's tension headaches and PTSD have been granted increased ratings, but other disabilities remain remanded for further development.,Higher ratings are sought for the Veteran's low back, left knee, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, low energy, exhaustion, migrating joint pain, memory loss and tension headaches, as well as right and left knee osteoarthritis, are all granted.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for dermatitis is denied, and the claim for service connection for migraines is remanded due to incomplete rationale in the medical opinions.

The Board has accepted the Veteran's untimely Notice of Disagreement and is now remanding the cases for further consideration on their merits.

The Board denied service connection for chronic headaches, right RLS, left RLS, and CFS due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service. The Veteran's STRs did not contain complaints or treatments for these conditions, and post-discharge records also lacked such information.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50% rating for migraine headaches is denied as the earliest possible effective date based on receipt of her March 10, 2020, claim is March 10, 2019.