Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Veteran's migraine headaches are productive of frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, resulting in severe economic inadaptability. The Board has granted an initial rating of 50 percent for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is service-connected. However, due to incomplete examination and insufficient reasoning regarding aggravation of pre-existing headache disability by service-connected sleep apnea, the case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type 2, thyroid disorder, hypertension, low back disorder, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, headaches, vertigo, and tinnitus due to potential exposure to herbicides during service.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions on a direct basis as they are not presumed diseases related to military service.

The Board granted an effective date of March 13, 2014 for a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches, finding that it was factually ascertainable that the Veteran's condition worsened prior to her claim.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his right shoulder sprain was dismissed. The Board granted a TDIU effective February 11, 2008, due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral pes planus was denied. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent disabling for migraine headaches prior to January 31, 2018 is also denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches and granted his claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy. However, the effective dates for these grants are denied as they are without legal merit. The remaining issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Board has also remanded the issues of systemic joint, thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, peripheral vestibular, scars, hypertension, and migraine headaches disabilities, as well as acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headaches, including migraine and tension types, are related to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for headache disability is granted.

The Veteran was granted service connection for depression, an initial rating of 70 percent effective September 26, 2013. The increased evaluation of posttraumatic headaches and TDIU were also granted.

The Veteran's mood disorder resulted in a rating of 50% prior to June 13, 2016 and 70% since then. The Veteran's headaches were not found to be related to service or her service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of traumatic brain injury including headaches. The conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations and records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for left ear hearing loss, entitlement to right ear hearing loss, dizziness (claimed as dizzy spells), weakness, headaches, paresthesias, psychiatric disability, and sleep disability are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's migraines are caused or aggravated by his service-connected eczema medication.

The Veteran's current diagnoses of adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability (degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with mild canal stenosis and neuroforaminal narrowing) and now service-connected psychiatric condition.,High cholesterol is not a compensable disability for VA benefits purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and depression as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury, finding that there is no evidence linking his current cognitive defects, headaches, and psychological malaise to any in-service incident.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to her failure to attend scheduled VA examinations and the need for additional private medical records. The issues of rating adjustments, service connection, and other claims are all pending.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for passive-aggressive personality disorder, Reiter’s syndrome, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and chronic headaches have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,Service connection for Reiter’s syndrome was denied because there is no clinical diagnosis of the condition in the Veteran's service records or post-service medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for residual surgical scars of the left hip is denied due to the scars not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches (claimed as secondary to PTSD) is denied because he does not have a current headache disability.