Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected headaches have not produced prostrating attacks averaging once a month over the last several months, and thus his claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and headaches due to potential service connection issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings and service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded several issues related to lumbar spine disorders, including radiculopathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his left wrist disability, right wrist disability, and headaches.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the veteran's migraine headaches developed during active duty with continuing symptomatology since service. Service connection for migraine headaches is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, left foot disorder, and right foot disorder due to conflicting evidence or lack of a nexus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current headache disability and his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for seizure disorder, cluster headaches (migraines), and headaches was granted. The claim for IBS remains denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for joint pain, an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep disturbance, memory loss, fatigue, and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at 50 percent effective February 11, 2013. The gunshot wound right thigh residuals require additional examination to determine the extent of muscle group XIV and XV impairment. Service connection for brain disease is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology. TDIU remains inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right leg disability, left leg disability, and right foot disability are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the issue of a separate, compensable rating for headaches associated with service-connected hypertension due to insufficient examination reports addressing the frequency and severity of the Veteran's headaches.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim for service connection for migraine headaches was granted. Service connection for migraine headaches and hypertension, both secondary to PTSD, were also granted. The issues of service connection for right and left hip disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for right hip disorder, sleep apnea, prostate cancer (residuals), migraine headaches, and various foot and knee disabilities. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's mandible disability appeal is dismissed. Bilateral hearing loss and migraines have been granted service connection, but the respiratory disability and varicose veins appeals are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a TBI, to include headaches, is granted. The issue has been remanded due to the need for an adequate medical advisory opinion.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at a 50 percent rating, effective November 5, 2019.,A higher rating for degenerative joint disease of the neck is denied. The Veteran's hypertension is now rated at 10 percent, effective September 3, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and medical opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches, glaucoma, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sexual dysfunction, PTSD, and chronic pancreatitis.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervicalgia and headaches, as these claims are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for hearing loss.