Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded four issues for further development and examination due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches on an extraschedular basis due to the severity and frequency of his symptoms, which have resulted in marked interference with employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, allergies, and headaches. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The Veteran's PVD is denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis or continuity of symptoms, and his headaches are denied due to lack of in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), including headaches, dizziness, occasional blurred vision, and impaired memory, as these conditions are believed to be related to the Veteran's 2006 IED detonation during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and effective dates has been remanded due to the need for additional development of records, including SSA disability benefits records, mental health records from service, and workers' compensation records. The issues regarding tinnitus, low back disability, PTSD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic headache disability, and psychiatric disability remain on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and neck conditions claimed as secondary to a service-connected lumbar strain. The Veteran's claims were based on subjective complaints of pain but lacked objective medical evidence supporting the presence of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and remanded the issues of service connection for peripheral vestibular disorder, tension headaches and migraines, and memory loss. The appeal is being remanded to determine if these conditions are related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial disability rating for lumbar spine and migraine headaches, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide VA treatment records from April 2019 onwards and undergo a VA examination to assess her current severity of migraine headaches.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is granted as the evidence shows he suffered a TBI during his deployment in Iraq and has consequent residuals, including headaches, memory issues, sleep disturbances, and changes in mood.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches have resulted in frequent absenteeism, making it impossible for him to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen her claim for service connection for headaches, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also determined that there is a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim based on medical opinions linking the Veteran’s current headache condition to her service-connected eye condition (recurrent iritis with superficial keratopathy and dry eye).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and headaches to include migraines have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence of a current disability that can be linked to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of chronic hearing loss during or within one year after service.,The Veteran's claim for TBI is denied as the VA examiner found no relationship between his current complaints and events experienced in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder and stomach ulcers, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found that any current diagnoses are not secondary to medications used for headaches.

The Veteran's arachnoid brain cyst, headaches, jaw disability, myofascial pain, and thoracolumbar spine disability (including osteopenia) are all granted.,Service connection for a right hand disability (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome or Raynaud’s syndrome) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination regarding whether the Veteran's migraine headaches are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's migraines and his service. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and lay statements supporting his claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and headaches have been denied due to the lack of current diagnoses. The Board finds that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of these conditions at any time during the pendency of the appeal.,For his bilateral knee disability, the Veteran has not provided sufficient medical evidence to establish a clear and unmistakable pre-existing condition prior to service or an in-service aggravation. The VA examination was inadequate as it did not evaluate both knees.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and headaches have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to a decision.,Service connection for depression and anxiety (claimed as drug treatment) has also been denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s current mental health conditions are not related to service.