Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of this decision.,The Veteran's right knee DJD and left knee DJD prior to February 21, 2017 are both rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's left knee DJD after April 1, 2018 is denied as there is no evidence of chronic residuals.

The Board has remanded 12 issues related to service connection and evaluations for various conditions, including headaches, allergies, erectile dysfunction, cervical disorders, neurological disorders, hearing loss, and back pain. The remand is due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from San Juan VAMC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, sleep apnea, and right eye vision loss due to in-service right zygoma fracture are remanded. The Veteran also has a current diagnosis of hepatitis C which is the subject of an independent medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for migraine headaches is dismissed. The issue of service connection for residuals of nasal polyp surgery is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence. The issues of increased ratings for headaches, right shoulder disability, and lumbar spine disability are now pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, memory loss due to an undiagnosed illness, chronic fatigue, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted.,Service connection has not been established for the claimed respiratory condition. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of her IBS, GERD, chronic headache disability, fibromyalgia, hepatitis C, and TDIU. The VA will obtain all relevant medical records and provide a supplemental opinion regarding the relationship between these conditions and her service-connected hepatitis C or polyarthritis.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic migraine headache is granted. The claims for acquired psychiatric disorder and systemic inflammatory disease or chronic fatigue syndrome are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), including headaches and brain lesions. The examiner is required to consider the Veteran's reported symptoms, exposure to blasts during service, and any potential aggravation by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent, effective May 25, 2016. The Board found that the Veteran’s disability picture is adequately described by the current schedular evaluation and no extraschedular rating is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is a Persian Gulf Veteran and remands for further examination to determine if service connection can be granted for fibromyalgia and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's PTSD and Tension Headaches were granted increased ratings, with a 70% rating for PTSD and a 50% rating for Tension Headaches. The effective date for the tension headaches rating was denied as there is no factual basis to award an earlier effective date. The Veteran also received a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has denied service connection for headaches, a psychiatric disorder, and hemorrhoids due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's service. The appeal is remanded for further examination regarding a foot disorder.

The Veteran's GERD is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a medical opinion regarding its relationship to his service-connected migraines and/or cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA medical opinions and incomplete records. The issues of headaches, chronic fatigue secondary to PTSD, sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, an increased rating for PTSD, earlier effective dates for PTSD and tinnitus, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of consideration of whether the Veteran's headaches and dizziness are proximately due to, or the result of, being hit in the head with a pugil stick during basic training.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, finding that the Veteran's reported symptoms are related to his military service and resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated by analogy under Diagnostic Code 8100, and since September 24, 2011, the criteria for a rating of 50 percent have been met. The Board finds that reasonable doubt must be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected cluster headaches are currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Board denied an increased disability rating as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.