Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for service-connected asbestosis with bilateral pleural plaques and remanded the issue of service connection for migraine headaches due to lack of a medical opinion.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder with anxiety and depressed mood.,Tinnitus is remanded for a VA audiometric examination to determine its etiology.,Obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for an updated VA examination and medical opinion considering the Veteran’s specific medical history.,Heart condition and high blood pressure are remanded for a VA examination and medical opinion addressing their relationship with service-connected conditions.,Adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood remains at issue, requiring an updated VA psychiatric examination.,Right knee instability and degenerative changes with internal derangement remain at issue, requiring an updated VA examination.,Left thigh scar and right hand scarring are remanded for increased ratings based on the Veteran's current medical records.,TDIU is remanded due to the Veteran’s service-connected conditions impacting his employment.,Whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for any lung disorder remains at issue.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence being added to the record after the SOC was issued. The Veteran and his representative did not waive AOJ review of this additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach condition was denied, but his claim for migraine headaches (secondary to PTSD) and sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD) were granted. The claim for tinnitus remains pending.,A remand is required to obtain medical opinions on the issues of service connection for hypertension (secondary to PTSD), migraine headaches (secondary to PTSD), and sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD).

The Board has remanded the case for an additional VA examination to determine if the Veteran's headaches are caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including his tremors and/or neck/shoulder disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, back injury, migraine headaches, and prostate cancer due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for more recent examinations.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, a skin disorder, and headaches as the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further evaluation regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a headache disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depression and major depressive disorder), and headaches are granted service connection. Service connection for HTN is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various psychiatric, sleep apnea, heart disorder, hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, and headaches. The issues include verifying in-service stressors, obtaining SSA records, and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has not been reopened as the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate this claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has not been reopened due to the lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin rashes and skin tumors has not been reopened as the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate this claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches and left/right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to noise exposure in service. Service connection was denied for middle ear damage and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's post-concussion headaches were restored to a 50% rating, but the increased ratings for left shoulder strain and chronic lumbar strain are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder alone preclude him from securing or following substantial gainful employment, leading to a TDIU. The case is remanded for further evaluation of the back condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for migraine headaches and major depressive disorder (MDD) were denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 30 percent for migraines or a rating higher than 50 percent for MDD.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a 30% initial rating for migraine headaches have been granted. The issue of an increased rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder has been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck disorder, headaches, and vertigo. The claims of entitlement to service connection for prostate cancer and bilateral foot disorder were previously denied but are now reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and headache disorder due to inadequate VA opinions based on time since service separation.