Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing documents and a need to rebuild his claims file. The issues include lumbar, thoracic, cervical, right knee, erectile dysfunction, headaches (claimed as cephalgia), left hand disability, right hand disability, paresthesia of upper extremities, sciatic pain in lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lower back, right knee, skin condition on the left foot, and headache conditions. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

Service connection has been granted for headaches (also claimed as migraines), nasal obstruction to include sinusitis, and vasomotor to include allergic rhinitis.,The Veteran's current conditions are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches is granted as they are considered to have started during her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a fully informed decision on these issues.

Service connection for headaches and low back disability has been granted.,Other claims, including those for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD), allergies, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right hip disability, have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not meet the auditory threshold criteria for a disability.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted as his reported symptoms are found to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headaches, finding that they are caused by his service-connected deviated nasal septum and associated sinus congestion.

The Board has denied service connection for glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) due to the absence of a diagnosed disability. The remaining issues are remanded as the Veteran's service records, particularly those related to his Air Force Reserve service, have not been obtained.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for his service-connected Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and associated post-concussive migraines were dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's application to reopen her claim for service connection for migraine headaches is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received, and the claim will be considered on its merits.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received within one year of the September 2014 rating decision, allowing the original claim for service connection for a sinus condition to remain on appeal. The Veteran's current sinus condition and headaches are related to his military service, but further examination is needed to determine if the conditions were permanently worsened by his pre-existing sinus condition.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but denied service connection for hypertension. The Veteran was also granted a 40 percent rating for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and headaches (tension headaches) are granted service connection. The Veteran's left arm condition and right arm condition are denied as not incurred during service. The Veteran's back condition is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disorder, right knee disorder, and migraine headaches due to a lack of competent medical evidence to adjudicate these claims. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any disorders.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the prior remand directives and has therefore ordered further development for the claims of service connection for peptic ulcer disease, pyloric obstruction, and headaches. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability from these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include migraine headaches, right foot status post fracture second toe with degenerative joint disease, and chronic right ankle strain. The combined rating for these conditions is 60 percent, which does not meet the percentage standards set forth in § 4.16 (a). However, there is evidence suggesting the Veteran may be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, leading to referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular TDIU evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16 (b).

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's headaches, mental condition, and fatigue are being reviewed due to incomplete records and need clarification on their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for hypertension, and denied all other claims due to lack of a causal relationship between the conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a head injury (including vertigo and headaches), and neck disability due to outstanding treatment records and need for additional medical opinions.