The Board has granted service connection for migraines and a permanent and total rating for pension purposes, but denied service connection for psychiatric disability (bipolar disorder and depression), insomnia, sleep impairment, and memory loss.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the appellant developed migraines during her active service and has had them since separation. The psychiatric disability was not related to service due to a lack of evidence linking it to the anthrax vaccine or any other in-service event. Insomnia and sleep impairment were also not linked to service, with the examiner concluding they are symptoms of pre-existing mental health issues.
- Claimed conditions
- migraines, psychiatric disability (bipolar disorder and depression), insomnia, sleep impairment, memory loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- August 7, 2018
- Citation
- 18124546
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 18124546.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection of insomnia was denied, and the effective date is set to the date of receipt of the claim (May 31, 2024).
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