Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraines has been denied, and his claim for service connection for a stomach disorder is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, corneal scar of the right eye, and migraine headaches are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, sleep disorder, headaches, flu-like symptoms such as chills and sweats, short-term memory loss, central nervous system disability, imbalance, shaking, and skin disability due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of conclusive pathophysiology or etiology.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for PTSD and bilateral knee disabilities. The remaining issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, headache disability, chronic fatigue, and shoulder and knee disabilities are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, headaches, bilateral pes planus, right ear hearing loss, respiratory disorder, and bilateral hand disorder have been denied.,New evidence received since the last denial does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate any of these claims.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his thoracolumbar spine disorder is granted, with a current rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran's separation pay benefits were correctly withheld from his VA disability compensation due to the statutory requirement, and there is no exception that would allow for waiver of this recoupment.

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia, Barrett’s esophagus, gastric ulcer, and gastritis is granted an initial 30 percent rating.,Service connection for migraines is granted. The Board finds the evidence at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's migraines had their onset in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined and must be remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence. The issues of entitlement to service connection for meningitis, memory loss, migraines, an acquired psychiatric disorder, lower back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, and pain in broken toes are all being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder is found to cause or aggravate his migraine headaches, allowing for the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for chronic mixed headaches is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of recent treatment records.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for asthma, hemorrhoids, sinus condition and sleep apnea secondary to deviated septum, thyroid tumor due to radiation exposure, headaches, left hip condition, and right hip condition are remanded as there is insufficient evidence or examination to support a decision.

The Board has denied service connection for migraines and granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, and PTSD have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to her service-connected conditions or events.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's headaches and stomach pain.

The claims for service connection for thoracic spine disability, UTI residuals, and restless leg syndrome are dismissed. The right shoulder disability, headache disability, acquired psychiatric disability, fibromyalgia, and colitis have been granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a right knee disability based on new and material evidence. However, further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current right knee condition is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several claims including service connection for headaches, residuals of a head injury, brain thrombosis, and related secondary conditions. The Veteran's complete medical records from his military service, Reserve service, private doctors (Dr. Tamayo), and VA facilities are needed to properly assess these claims.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for a left eye disability due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal. The other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's tension headaches were originally rated at 50% and reduced to 30%. The reduction was not proper due to lack of evidence of improvement in the condition.