Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis status post-surgery is granted a 30 percent evaluation, effective from the entire appeal period. The Veteran’s benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and hypertension are denied evaluations greater than 10 percent. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left upper extremity (prior to October 15, 2018) is granted a 30 percent evaluation, effective from that date. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity (prior to October 15, 2018) and unspecified anxiety disorder with other specified insomnia are denied evaluations greater than 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA opinion and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tension headaches (claimed as migraine) is denied, and her claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and headaches have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 20, 2017. The Board has granted the TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for tension headaches is remanded due to unclear severity of his headaches, and another VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's headache disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The rating for his tinnitus remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases of hearing loss and headaches due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions will be further evaluated with additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50% from September 21, 2016, due to very frequent and prolonged attacks that cause severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary and the AOJ should effectuate earlier effective dates for certain evaluations, including a 40 percent evaluation for residuals of head trauma other than posttraumatic headaches prior to January 15, 2013, and a separate evaluation for posttraumatic headaches prior to January 15, 2013.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including headaches, menstrual issues and blackouts, pulmonary embolism, GERD, right foot pes planus, and asthma. The RO is instructed to obtain additional medical records and schedule VA examinations for her asthma and right foot condition.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims of service connection for PTSD, fibromyalgia, back disability, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches is granted. The cases are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran withdrew all her claims, including those for service connection and increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar disorder, including DJD, was granted. The claims for neck and headache disorders were also granted.

Prior to September 7, 2016, the Veteran's headaches were not productive of severe economic inadaptability. Since then, they have been productive of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks with severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and depressive disorder, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heat stroke, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), scar, status post left knee injury, recurrent tinnitus, residuals of concussion including vertigo and headaches, and major depressive disorder with anxiety have been remanded.,The effective dates for the grants of service connection for scar, status post left knee injury; recurrent tinnitus; residuals of concussion including vertigo and headaches; and major depressive disorder with anxiety are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete medical records, need for additional examination, and need for retrospective medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's tension headaches are currently evaluated as noncompensable prior to February 3, 2018, and as 30 percent disabling thereafter. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed due to the ameliorating effects of medication in determining the severity of his service-connected disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension and headaches due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of an examination. The Veteran will need to undergo further medical examinations and obtain additional treatment records.