Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claims for vertigo, bilateral tinnitus, right shoulder labrum tear, left wrist ganglion cyst, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and tension headaches have been denied.,Service connection has been granted for these conditions, but the Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating or a higher initial disability evaluation.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea syndrome. The Veteran's vision loss and/or blindness of the left eye was not caused or permanently worsened by his service-connected disabilities, and his occipital neuralgia with migraine headaches have not resulted in very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks that are productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to August 18, 2011 for the grant of service connection for GERD with insomnia is denied.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C remains pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for lumbar arthralgia with lumbar spondylosis, right shoulder arthralgia, left shoulder arthralgia, left leg pain, and right leg pain are all pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension (high blood pressure) remains pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for dizziness, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) remain pending and will be remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), claimed as a respiratory condition, remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dizziness, allergies, sleep apnea, anemia, fatigue, erectile dysfunction, sterility, a skin condition, headaches, refractive error, bronchitis, and unspecified body aches has been denied.,No new evidence was received to reopen the claims for service connection for paralysis, neck to left foot, and back injury or passive aggressive personality disorder.

The Veteran's heart condition (syncope) is not service connected. The claims for right and left hip disabilities secondary to the back disability are granted, as well as the claim for depressive disorder due to service-connected migraines, knee disabilities, and a back disability. The rating for migraines remains at 30 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that they are a neurological effect of his service-connected cervical segmental joint dysfunction.

The Board denied service connection for left arm intention tremors and recurrent headache disorder, and granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent for panic disorder. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial higher rating for Headache Syndrome prior to August 12, 2015 was denied. A 50% disability rating is granted from that date onwards. The claims of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for Right Hip Degenerative Arthritis and Left Hip Degenerative Arthritis are remanded. The claim of entitlement to an increased rating for Lumbosacral Intervertebral Disc Syndrome is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient development of evidence, particularly regarding the Veteran's head injury during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left lower extremity joint pain, headaches, and sleep disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is presumed exposed to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia during her service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and evidence collection. The Board will consider each condition individually, including tinnitus, sulfa drug allergy, low back disorder, vertigo, narcolepsy, headache disorder (secondary to TBI), acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to TBI), and IBS.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, neck rash, and headaches. Tinnitus is linked to in-service acoustic trauma. Neck rash and headaches have been found with unknown etiology.

The reduction of the disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy from 10 percent to a noncompensable rating was not proper, and the 10 percent rating is restored.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headache condition remains pending. A new VA examination is needed to evaluate the severity of her service-connected headache condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, back disability, and headaches. The claims are granted as new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's migraine headache disability is rated as noncompensable prior to November 12, 2014 and as 50 percent disabling thereafter. The Board has granted a 50% rating for the Veteran’s service-connected migraine headaches since November 11, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, back disorder, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and neck disorder are denied. The claims for reopening of service connection for headache disorder and skin disorder are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for patellofemoral syndrome left leg, bilateral shin splints (stress fractures), back surgery, headaches, and restless leg syndrome. The claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for patellofemoral syndrome left leg was also denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.,Prior to August 4, 2017, the Veteran's headaches are not productive of characteristic prostrating attacks, so they do not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left otitis media was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for a spine disability and balance problems secondary to perforated left tympanic membrane were also denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.