Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be established. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, headaches, and facial pain are all remanded for further examination to determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for further development due to the Veteran not being properly notified of VA examinations related to his service connection and increased disability rating claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for gastrointestinal disability, headaches, GERD and hypertension, sleep disorder/sleep apnea, mood disorder, and CVID. The issues are related to whether these conditions are directly related to his military service or if they were caused by other conditions he is already service-connected for.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic cervical pain radiating down arm and tension headaches, both related to the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury. The compensable rating for TBI is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected acute maxillary sinusitis and headaches was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a separate compensable evaluation for headaches, as they were considered manifestations of her sinusitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether any disability associated with the Veteran's claimed TBI is etiologically related to his active service. The Veteran claims he incurred two separate TBIs during active service and has reported symptoms since then.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for GERD, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and headaches was denied. The effective date of the TDIU award is set at June 18, 2009.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left knee disorder, otitis media, sinusitis, hypertension, urticaria, thyroid cancer, and headaches. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection in any of these cases.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a neck disability, and to that extent only, the claim is granted. The issues of service connection for back disability, headaches, missing teeth 7 to 10 and 23 to 26, and sinusitis are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder was granted a TDIU rating of 100 percent effective October 29, 2007. The increased ratings for left knee disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae were denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for GERD was withdrawn. The Board dismissed the claims for a compensable evaluation from December 1, 2010 to September 13, 2013 and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent from September 13, 2013 for his left knee disability due to lack of evidence. The Veteran's appeal for service connection for unspecified joint pain, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic tension headaches is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD and migraine/tension headaches have been granted a rating of 50% for the entire appeal period, with no higher. The PTSD is rated based on occupational and social impairment due to reduced reliability and productivity, while the migraines are rated as having characteristic prostrating attacks occurring approximately once a month.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and reopening of service connection claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for post-operative ano-rectal canal displacement and stenosis, migraine headaches, and diabetic retinopathy is granted. The claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability remains pending as new evidence did not reopen the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service and resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for further examination regarding PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of tension headaches was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her lumbar spine disability and for TDIU due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran needs to be provided with updated VA examinations to assess the severity of her disabilities, including flares.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and an increased rating for hearing loss. Additional development is required due to outstanding SSA records.

The Board has remanded several claims including service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, headaches, left lower extremity neuropathy, a sciatic nerve condition of the right leg, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to outstanding SSA records.