Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

Service connection for migraine headaches is granted, with an effective date of January 29, 2016. The Veteran's right shoulder disability was initially granted based on aggravation during a period of active service from January to March 2012.,The claim for an earlier effective date for the right shoulder disability is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches as secondary to a right eye disability, including a right eye vision disability. The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s current headaches are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right eyelid scar.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and to obtain relevant records. The issues include service connection for various disabilities, including lumbar spine, knee, stress fractures, hearing loss, tinnitus, psychiatric disorders, and migraines.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinion regarding whether the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his service-connected conditions, specifically migraines, hearing loss, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), left side tinnitus, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and hemorrhoids associated with IBS.

The Board has decided to remand several claims due to the addition of new VA treatment records, which were not reviewed by the AOJ. The Veteran's right ankle strain claim also requires an updated examination as his symptoms may have worsened since the last evaluation in March 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for prostate cancer and headache disorder, to include as secondary to tinnitus. The Veteran's assertions regarding exposure to herbicides are not supported by his service records.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected acquired mental disorder. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbar strain, and right foot metatarsalgia with calcaneal spur are not rated higher than 10 percent prior to May 16, 2011.,For the period beginning May 16, 2011, the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is rated at 10 percent; left knee patellofemoral syndrome and arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbar strain are each rated at 10 percent; and right foot metatarsalgia with calcaneal spur is rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 30 percent prior to May 16, 2011, and 40 percent beginning May 16, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for a low back disability and TMJ was reopened, with the new evidence showing diagnoses of low back pain and TMJ. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected as it is at least as likely as not due to her service-connected vertigo.,The Veteran's DDD of the cervical spine has been granted a 30% disability rating, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA regulations.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to May 29, 2014 resulted in significant occupational and social impairment.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective May 29, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for migraines and remanded the issue of service connection for tension headaches, which is related to a service-connected insomnia disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral flat feet, unspecified anxiety disorder with posttraumatic stress disorder (psychiatric disability), migraine headaches, and kidney disability have been granted. The claim for acne was denied. Effective November 17, 2015, the Veteran is now receiving a 70 percent rating for his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, kidney disorder, and headaches have been denied. The claim for increased rating of coronary artery disease has also been denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim for a low back disability is remanded.,The claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus remains denied as the appellant is already receiving the maximum schedular rating.,The claim for a low back disability is remanded due to lack of evidence on record regarding its onset and etiology during service.,The claim for a right lazy eye is remanded due to lack of evidence on record regarding its onset and etiology during service.,The claims for migraines (including as aggravated by tinnitus) and psychiatric disability (including as aggravated by tinnitus) are both remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion.,The claim for an effective date earlier than May 29, 2013, for service connection of tinnitus is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for TBI residuals and migraine headaches need further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's migraines and vertigo are granted as service-connected.,Effective dates for the grants of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease are denied.,Service connection is granted for a left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. Effective dates for these conditions are not granted as the Veteran did not file claims prior to July 7, 2014.,The Veteran's hypertension, anxiety, and depression are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee disabilities, a left ankle disability, tinnitus, bronchitis, headaches (secondary to rhinitis), and sleep apnea. The claims are remanded for further development in several areas.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to service connection for various hand, finger, and ankle ligament laxity conditions. The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to address the nature and etiology of these conditions, as well as any acquired psychiatric disorder and headache disorder.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), and a lumbosacral spine disability due to lack of medical evidence showing current disabilities related to active service.,Service connection was also not granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the Veteran's in-service audiological evaluations were conducted using ASA standards which need to be converted to ISO-ANSI standards.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and migraines have made it difficult for him to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU, but the evaluations for migraine headaches and bilateral anterior displaced disc remain under review.