Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Veteran's headaches are granted service connection as they began during service and have continued since. The Veteran's labyrinthitis is denied as it is not related to her service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and TBI residuals have been granted a 70 percent rating effective from August 28, 2014.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased rating for PTSD, service connection for various conditions, and TDIU prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bipolar II disorder and degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine are being remanded to allow for additional development.,VA is seeking to obtain relevant treatment records from community therapists and a VA examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran’s service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's headaches. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remain denied.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension is remanded due to the lack of a VA examination assessing his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawals. The Board has also remanded the claims for TBI, migraine headaches, left knee chondromalacia, right knee chondromalacia, and TDIU.

The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for migraines prior to October 29, 2013 and denied any higher ratings thereafter. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not experience very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection. The claims for PTSD, lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease, TBI, migraine headaches, vertigo, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and migraine headaches, finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, hypertension, and headaches have been granted. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a low back disability. However, the claims for hypertension and headaches were denied as there was no new and material evidence received.

The Board has granted service connection for throat cancer. The claims of secondary service connection for various conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, effective December 21, 2013. The Board found the evidence showed frequent and severe attacks of migraines that impacted employment but did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial increased disability ratings for panic disorder, headaches, GERD, and sinusitis prior to March 12, 2019 are denied. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's claims for cervical strain and IVDS, right shoulder strain, migraines, and right ankle sprain were granted with effective dates of April 27, 2015.,However, the Board has determined that these effective dates are not appropriate due to various procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including to determine if the Veteran's headaches are related to or a component of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his migraine condition has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent prior to August 16, 2011, for service-connected headaches due to brain concussion and his claim for TDIU. The issues are being remanded because the Board did not address whether the Veteran's headaches were prolonged.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for post-concussion syndrome and migraine headaches due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of review of service treatment records and an unclear examination report. The Veteran will need to undergo a new VA TBI protocol examination.

The Veteran's post-traumatic headaches are rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100. The Board found that the Veteran's very frequent and severe prostrating attacks meet the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating.