Migraines & headaches decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claims for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Headaches are granted, with an effective date of January 26, 2006.

The Board has granted service connection for schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. The Veteran's current diagnosis of this condition is believed to have begun during his military service. However, the decision on headaches remains denied as there is no credible evidence linking them to service.

The Board has reopened the claims for tinnitus, gastrointestinal disorder (acid reflux), and migraine headaches. The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The cases are remanded for additional examinations to determine if his gastrointestinal disorder and migraine headaches are related to service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for excessive weight gain has been reopened. Service connection is granted for chronic headaches, but denied for spine condition, swelling of joints, acquired psychiatric disorder, stomach problems, and bowel problems.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and sleep apnea are found to be the primary cause of his migraine headaches. The skin condition is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete information about the appellant's active duty periods.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are service-connected, but her joint pain, muscle aches, dizziness, chronic fatigue with sleep difficulty, thyroid cancer, bilateral lower extremity neurological condition (RLS), and acquired psychiatric disorder are not service-connected.

The Veteran's headaches were characterized by more than one prostrating attack per month, qualifying for an initial 30 percent rating. The condition was not severe enough to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being uploaded into the Veteran's claims file, and a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) must be issued for the issues of service connection for tailbone/coccyx disability and increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain, bilateral patellofemoral syndrome, left leg calf strain, and migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that the issues of an earlier effective date for service connection and increased ratings for a headache disability require additional development, including obtaining private medical records. The case is being remanded to allow this process.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent prior to June 11, 2015. The Veteran's left hip sciatica is currently rated at 40 percent and the Board has restored the previous 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and determine if vertigo and headaches are related to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at a 50% disability rating since August 1, 2012. The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis was dismissed.,Claims for service connection for plantar fascitis of the right and left lower extremities, arthritis, severe joint pain, and tinnitus were all dismissed.

The Board has determined that service connection for headaches is not warranted due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The claims for compensation for residuals of intracranial aneurysm, cerebral embolism with cerebral infarction, with non-rupture cerebral aneurysm (claimed as residuals of multiple strokes), right and left knee earlier effective date and increased ratings, unspecified depression initial increased rating claim, and TDIU are REMANDED for further action.

The Board has determined that further medical evaluation and opinion are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including back disability, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory condition (COPD), and migraine headaches. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital for his service-connected migraine headaches were approved due to the nature of the emergency and the unavailability of VA facilities.

The Board has decided to remand three issues: service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to all service-connected disabilities, rating higher than 10 percent for the service-connected migraine disability, and rating higher than 40 percent for the service-connected back disability. Additional development is needed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased evaluations related to various eye, nose, and head injuries. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to an effective date prior to September 20, 2013 for the award of benefits for traumatic brain injury and headaches secondary to traumatic brain injury due to a pending claim of clear and unmistakable error regarding the effective date of service connection.