Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated at 70 percent since January 4, 2016.,Service connection for sleep apnea and migraine headaches was denied.

The Board denied service connection for seborrheic dermatitis, dismissed the cervical spine and headache claims due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including glaucoma, chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle pain and weakness, joint pain and weakness, sleep apnea, cholecystectomy, colitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and migraines. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to the lack of a current diagnosis or during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has dismissed the claim of an earlier effective date for migraines with mixed-type headaches due to facial trauma. The case is remanded for further action on the issues of an earlier effective date for TBI and a higher initial rating for TBI.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for vertigo, neck disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, jaw disorder, and headaches due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions during or prior to the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for higher evaluations and effective dates for service connection of various conditions was granted. The issues related to bilateral hearing loss, benign prostatic hypertrophy, lumbosacral strain, migraine headaches, and mood disorder NOS were addressed.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine, left foot, right foot, and left ankle disabilities due to service connection. The Veteran's exposure to burn pits is also in question.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the rating for a headache disability, chronic kidney disease with hypertension, sinusitis, and heart disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to new evidence and possible improvement in service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, nerve damage, hypertension, headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, a bilateral eye disability; and a right shoulder disability have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, but denied service connection for COPD, hypertension, headaches, and heart disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the onset and causation of the Veteran's headaches with blurring of vision. The Veteran needs to provide updated treatment records from his VA Medical Center and UCSD, as well as an additional VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sinusitis, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), and headaches to include migraines due to lack of new and material evidence. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches and OSA are related to his active service, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disorder, but remanded it due to insufficient evidence. The claims for increased rating and earlier effective date for migraine headaches are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (migraine headaches and bilateral knee condition) do not render him unemployable, as the evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD, Lumbosacral Spine Disability, and Chronic Headache Disorder are all being remanded for further examination and opinion.,Specifically, the Board requested that VA obtain examinations to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for occipital neuralgia and denied increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical strain, migraines, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension, were denied. The Board found that new evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for fibromyalgia has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for hypertension, vertigo, sleep apnea, diabetes, PTSD, depression, and headaches are being remanded for further development.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence linking current hypertension to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cluster headaches are likely related to his service, specifically exposure to trichlorethylene (TCE) during active duty. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.