Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the service connection claims related to rheumatoid arthritis and migraines/headaches due to potential medical opinions needed.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50%, migraine headaches are rated at 50%, and lumbosacral DDD, right knee cyst removal, right ear tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss are all rated at 10%. The combined rating for these conditions results in an 80% disability rating. The Veteran's appeal is denied as his PTSD does not warrant a higher than 50% rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disability, headaches, and bilateral lower extremity disability due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for anal dysplasia, herpes, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, and pneumonia. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is remanded due to a lack of proper development.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches on a presumptive basis. The cases of low back, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, right knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has ordered a new examination to assess the Veteran's occluded vertebral artery and its associated symptoms, as it is unclear if his current symptoms are related to the injury.

The Board has denied service connection for muscle and joint pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and headaches as secondary to prostate cancer. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for anxiety disorder and sleep disorder, as well as his claim for an increased rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, are dismissed. The issue of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to insufficient evidence or need for additional development. The effective date of benefits is not addressed in this decision.

The Board granted service connection for low back strain with degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, mesothelioma, an abnormal heart disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep apnea, hypertension, metabolic syndrome to include insulin resistant disorder and/or diabetes mellitus, migraine headaches, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and depression secondary to medical condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dysthymic disorder with anxiety symptoms, migraine headaches, tinnitus, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right ear hearing loss, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), preclude her from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for low back condition, bilateral lower extremity disability, left hip disability, vestibular disability (dizziness), and headache have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection has not been established for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's rating for migraines was restored from 10% to 50%. The Veteran is currently receiving the highest schedular rating available.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for migraine headaches was denied as there were no characteristic prostrating attacks to warrant a 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, gastrointestinal condition, and acquired psychiatric disability are all considered granted. The low back disability and headache disability remain pending as the appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to address the evidence of record and provide an opinion on whether his LUE neurologic disorder is secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including neck disability, headache disability, and acquired psychiatric disability. The claims are being remanded for further development, specifically obtaining additional private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), to include headaches and seizures, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of TBI at any time during the period on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of cervical spine disorder and hearing loss as secondary to a cervical spine disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.