Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral knee disorder, precancerous cells in the throat, GERD, migraine headaches, Bell's palsy, and right leg nerve disorder. The decision states that VA examinations are needed prior to deciding these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and chronic sinusitis, to include associated headaches. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus was denied as it is already at the maximum schedular rating. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's migraine disability was denied for a higher rating before November 19, 2013. From that date until May 11, 2015, the Veteran received a maximum (50%) rating for his migraine disability under Diagnostic Code 8100. The Veteran's hypertension was granted a 10% rating effective from May 11, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and conflicting evidence in some cases. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disorder should be remanded due to incomplete records and verification of his Army Reserve and National Guard service.

The Board has found that further development of the evidence is required prior to adjudicating the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining VA treatment records from 1987 onwards.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not file a claim prior to October 22, 2012, for PTSD, migraine condition, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, thoracolumbar spine condition, or cervical spine condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective October 3, 2008. The appeal for a higher rating remains under review.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for migraine headaches and TDIU due to an inadequate medical opinion in the June 2017 decision. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury was denied, but his claim for an increased evaluation for migraine headaches was granted and he is now rated at 50%.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches, liver condition, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder due to lack of evidence supporting the claims on the merits.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including neck disability, left knee and right knee disabilities, chronic fatigue, sleep disorder, headaches, left arm and leg disabilities. The severance of service connection for fractured teeth #15 and #17 is also being addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral eye disability due to disease or injury in service.,The evidence does not show a diagnosis of tinnitus during service or for many years thereafter, and is unrelated to active military service.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and denied a compensable rating for migraine headaches, finding no evidence of a causal relationship between the conditions and the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of headaches and major depressive disorder for further development as requested.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, migraine headaches, and pelvic inflammatory disease are denied. The effective dates for these grants of service connection are September 29, 2011, October 4, 2011, respectively. A compensable rating is not granted for the Veteran's pelvic inflammatory disease. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD prior to August 17, 2013, is denied.

The Veteran's migraines were not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board found no evidence to support a secondary service connection based on his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, chest congestion and body aches, right ankle disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy (secondary to lumbar spine disability), right lower extremity radiculopathy (secondary to lumbar spine disability), and a 10% rating for right thumb/hand disability have been granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and related neurological impairments in the extremities, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart condition, skin condition, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and depression. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is unclear, and further development is needed.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was added to the claims file without a waiver of AOJ consideration and is requesting its review. The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded for further development.