Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to missing VA and private treatment records, need for new VA examinations, and a VA aid and attendance examination. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and posttraumatic headaches.

The Board is remanding several claims for further development, including those related to left knee osteoarthritis and other service-connected disabilities.,Additional medical records are needed to clarify the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions and determine if they are related to her military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, depression, headaches, sleep apnea, and GERD has been granted. The claims for hypertension have not met the criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current GERD is related to service, specifically her service-connected migraine headaches and/or PTSD. The Veteran claims that her symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are related to these conditions during episodes.

The Veteran's chronic headache disability has been granted an initial 50 percent rating, effective from the date of her claim. The appeal for service connection for neck and low back disabilities was withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened, but the claim remains denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,Service connection for a back disability was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and fatigue have been denied as there is no evidence of a qualifying chronic disability under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. §1117 and 38 C.F.R. § 3.317. The claim for an increased rating for herniated disc, lumbar spine has also been denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including lumbar spine, cervical spine, left lower extremity, headache disorder, and upper extremity disabilities. The missing records from his military service, as well as recent treatment records, need to be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for headaches is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of the claims.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are remanded due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions. The claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the current schedular rating is adequate.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraines was denied as the earliest received communication expressing an intent to file that was within one year of his March 5, 2017 VA Form 21-526 did not include PTSD.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as the earliest received communication expressing an intent to file that was within one year of his March 5, 2017 VA Form 21-526 did not include PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to new and material evidence. Service connection has been granted for anxiety disorder, migraine headaches, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and hypertension.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of any service connection for the cause of death.,The appellant was awarded $300.00 in nonservice-connected burial benefits and $734.00 for a plot/interment allowance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or a link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his knee, foot, hip, and headache disabilities. The appeals are currently pending.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied these claims on the merits.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertension was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition.,Service connection has also been established for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran’s headache disability and tinnitus are not related to his active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, a VA examination is needed to determine if he currently has a diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied as there is no current diagnosis or established link between the condition and military service.,A VA examination is required to assess whether the Veteran has allergic rhinitis that may be related to his active duty service. The June 2015 VA opinion was based on a single bout of allergic rhinitis, which does not meet the criteria for chronic disability.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its relationship to military service. A new VA examination and medical opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his active duty service.,The claim for service connection for GERD secondary to IBS remains in dispute, with a June 2015 VA examiner concluding that there is no causal or aggravating relationship. A new VA examination and medical opinion are needed to resolve this issue.,Service connection for a headache disability is remanded as the Veteran claims his symptoms began during service but there is conflicting evidence regarding its onset and etiology.,The claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) remains in dispute. The June 2015 VA examiner found no link between CFS and military service, with a new examination and opinion needed to determine if the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his service connection claims for lumbar spine disorder, lower extremity disorder, heart disorder, headache disorder, and hemorrhoids before the Board could make a decision.