Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and chronic headaches due to inadequate VA examinations. The new examination must provide a reasoned medical explanation connecting the current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury, migraine headaches, and major depression with generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims, and did not find any of the conditions were related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a headache condition has been remanded due to the need for additional examination and development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evidence review. The issues include back disability, headaches (undiagnosed illness), left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (undiagnosed illness), right upper extremity neuropathy (undiagnosed illness), right lower extremity radiculopathy (undiagnosed illness), and left lower extremity radiculopathy (undiagnosed illness).

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches are all found to be secondary to his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 40 percent for TBI from January 14, 2019.,Prior to January 14, 2019, the Veteran's TBI was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for service-connected depressive disorder is granted, and his claims for service connection for tinnitus, headaches, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and obstructive sleep apnea are all denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are not shown to be manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over the last several months, so a compensable rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened. His major depressive disorder (previously PTSD) is rated at 70 percent, effective December 29, 2016. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability, right toe injury, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hypertension, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, affective psychosis, and adjustment disorder due to incomplete service records.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a head injury, cervical spine disorder, and headache disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the medical evidence presented.

The appeal is denied for the claims of service connection for hepatitis C, left shoulder disorder, acid reflux, erectile dysfunction, sleep disorder, and headaches. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and anxiety reaction) has been reopened.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating determinations due to incomplete records from Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital, a need for additional VA medical opinions regarding headaches and prostate cancer/kidney disabilities, and an issue with secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches, neck impairment, right foot condition, and left foot condition are not service-connected as they were not aggravated by an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for hypertension, stomach hernia, and migraine headaches have been remanded due to the need for further development regarding her employment status.

The Veteran's TDIU application is remanded due to the need for updated employment information and a comprehensive examination assessing the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work as a carpenter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and verification of exposure, stressors, and medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury and strokes have been denied. The claim for PTSD has been granted with new and material evidence received.,Service connection for blindness and diabetes mellitus is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of evidence of very frequent prostrating attacks.

The Board has found that a VA examination is needed for the disabilities to properly adjudicate the issues on appeal, including service connection for various conditions.