Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Veteran's initial evaluations for TBI and headaches have been remanded due to unclear effective dates and potential pyramiding issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder, blood disorder, and migraine headaches has been denied. The claim of service connection for venous insufficiency (also claimed as peripheral vascular disease) is being remanded.,The Veteran was not granted service connection for the following conditions: left ankle disorder, blood disorder, migraine headaches, vein disorders of both lower extremities, skin disorders/ulcers on both lower extremities, and skin grafts on both lower extremities.

The Veteran's increased rating for migraine headaches from 30% to 50% is granted, effective May 18, 2015. The reduction of the rating from 30% to 0% was found improper and restored.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches but denied service connection for malaria. The Veteran's headache disorder is presumed to have been incurred in service, while there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or pre-service condition for malaria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further review of additional VA treatment records that have been associated with his claims file.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for joint pain, headaches, skin condition, and sleep disability due to lack of a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's other conditions are also being reviewed.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for tension headaches prior to June 30, 2016 and a rating in excess of 30 percent thereafter.,The Board also denied the claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment in light of his education and occupational history.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during active service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s sleep apnea is related to service or proximately due to his service-connected PTSD. The issues of acid reflux, alopecia, diverticulitis, migraines, athlete’s foot of the right foot, athlete’s foot of the left foot, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, chronic bronchitis, hemorrhoids, right foot heel spur, left foot heel spur, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are remanded for further examination and consideration.

The appeal for a TDIU is remanded due to the failure to ensure substantial compliance with previous remand directives and consideration of evidence favorable to the Veteran. The Board will need to obtain an updated opinion regarding the collective impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to function in an occupational environment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of headaches has been reopened and is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at a 30 percent disability rating for the entire period covered by this claim, as they cause severe symptoms and do not result in severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's chronic allergic rhinitis and sinusitis are granted a 50% rating, effective from May 20, 2011. The loss of smell is denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating. Headaches prior to November 3, 2015, remain at 30%.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and effective date claims related to TBI residuals, headache disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease, PTSD with depressive disorder, and left eyebrow scar residuals. The issues of increased ratings for coronary artery disease and PTSD with depressive disorder; and entitlement to total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors. The issues of headaches, left foot disability, and tinnitus are being remanded as there were insufficient opinions provided regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be of such severity that they preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) in response to the May 2009 rating decision was not filed within one year of the denial.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, an acquired psychological condition (including post-traumatic stress disorder), and a back condition. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, eye disability, asthma, hypertension, stomach disability, TBI, and headaches have been denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for TBI and headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims are remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the severity of his service-connected cervical spine, low back, GERD, and headaches. The effective dates for the grants of service connection will be determined based on when a request to reopen was received.