Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective November 9, 2016. The Board also granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disk disease, vascular headaches and sinusitis, and TDIU due to inadequate examinations in previous rating decisions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and a headache disability. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and headaches are not service-connected.,Right knee osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent, but the claim for a higher rating is remanded. Maxillary sinusitis with allergic rhinitis has been granted an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for tinnitus, back disability, bilateral pes planus, allergic rhinitis, migraines, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and degenerative changes of the right shoulder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD linked to in-service stressor and grants service connection for PTSD. Other issues related to initial ratings are remanded.

The Veteran's chronic headaches, hypertension, TBI and cranial nerve damage are all found to have their onset in service. The Veteran's chronic headaches and TBI were granted service connection. However, the Veteran's hypertension and cranial nerve damage remain unresolved due to remand for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headache disability.,There is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings, service connection, or reopening of claims have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and/or evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination to assess the Veteran's employability status.

The Veteran's asthma claim is reopened and granted.,Obstructive sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder (generalized anxiety disorder), bilateral hip condition, eye condition, and headache condition are all granted as secondary to service-connected pneumoconiosis.,Low back and neck conditions are denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral SNHL is denied.,An effective date prior to November 15, 2013 for the grant of a 10 percent disability rating for bilateral SNHL and an effective date prior to November 15, 2013 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus are both denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his service-connected mixed type headaches is remanded, as well as the issue regarding whether the reduction from 30 percent to noncompensable was proper. Additional evidence and an examination are needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, a higher rating for migraine headaches, and TDIU due to unemployability. The Veteran did not receive notice of VA examinations related to these claims.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches, including as secondary to TBI, needs further examination and evaluation.

The claim for service connection for Meniere's disease, left ear hearing loss, cervical spine disability, left knee condition, right knee condition, TMJ, urinary incontinence, hypothyroidism, and migraine headaches is granted. The effective date of the award is not specified.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, residuals of cerebrovascular accident (CVA), depressive disorder, right ear hearing loss, and sleep apnea. Service connection was denied for left ear hearing loss and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 70 percent for unspecified depressive disorder is granted. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities, with the condition that it is subject to the law and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and tension headaches do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic headaches, finding that the Veteran's current headache disorder is related to an in-service head injury. However, the Board denied service connection for left hip disability due to lack of a current diagnosis.