Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

Service connection for fatigue, including chronic fatigue syndrome, is denied.,An initial rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches is denied.,An effective date earlier than April 5, 2016, for the award of service connection for migraine headaches is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating for cervicogenic headaches and a prior effective date for TDIU. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his service-connected cervicogenic headaches, which are currently rated as noncompensable. He also seeks an earlier effective date for his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the reduction of a 10 percent disability rating to a noncompensable rating for a headache disorder was not proper, and a 10 percent rating is restored effective May 4, 2016. The Veteran's claims for entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected headache disorder, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), including headaches, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability are granted. The initial rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder is also granted at 70 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, neck disability, low back disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hip disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction, which is related to PTSD or hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and granted a 70 percent evaluation for anxiety disorder, including panic disorder and other specified depressive disorder, effective April 11, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease was denied. The rating for migraines in excess of 50% and the rating for depressive disorder and chronic sleep impairment in excess of 70% were also denied.,Service connection for migraines, depressive disorder and chronic sleep impairment, and TDIU were granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was reopened, and she is now granted. However, her initial compensable disability rating for her skin condition (psoriasis and eczema) from January 3, 2015 to August 20, 2019, remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for endometriosis, pelvic infection with cervicitis, and migraine headaches other than the already service-connected migraine cephalgia due to incomplete development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claims for migraine headaches, stroke residuals, back disorder, left knee disorder, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and heart disorder. The appeals are now remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to a headache condition, neck condition, left knee condition, back condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, and post-service hysterectomy have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection will be remanded for these conditions as further review is needed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new examination to address the severity of his service-connected TBI and its residuals. The Veteran seeks higher ratings for headaches associated with TBI and for residuals of TBI prior to February 17, 2017.

The Board has decided that more information is needed to determine if the Veteran's headaches are related to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The case is being sent back for a new examination and opinion.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for headaches with migraine variant is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and the availability of additional private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected headaches and unspecified anxiety disorder, as well as a TDIU rating, are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches secondary to service-connected tinnitus and for unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in service.

The Veteran's lumbar DDD has been granted a restoration of a 40 percent rating, effective the date of reduction.,Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to service-connected lumbar DDD at the L4 vertebra is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of headaches due to new and material evidence, but remands it for further development including a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and migraine headache disorder to include as secondary to service-connected tinnitus.