Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tension and migraine headaches, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the cervical spine, a stomach disability, and Barrett's Esophagus due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient reasons and bases in its previous decision. The VA will need to obtain additional medical records, including those from Fort Jackson hospitalization and VA treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for migraines and TDIU due to insufficient evidence of current severity. A new VA examination is needed, along with updated treatment records and information about employment history.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability, finding that it is related to his in-service diagnosis of HSK and thus directly connected to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on several service-connected conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and ensuring compliance with VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for chronic fatigue syndrome, tension headache disability, and heat/cold intolerance are being remanded due to the absence of a DRO hearing transcript.

The Board has denied service connection for migraine headaches and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to insufficient evidence in the August 2018 decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant service treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including seizure disorder, PTSD, and chronic migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus has been denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is already assigned.,The Board has remanded several issues including service connection and ratings for various disabilities due to a duty to assist error prior to the May 2018 RAMP opt-in.,Issues include left eye occipital neuralgia, lower extremity sciatica, upper extremity radiculopathy, herpes simplex virus, adjustment disorder with anxiety/depression, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, stroke/vertebral artery dissection, thoracolumbar strain, cervical strain, and scars from hernia repair.,The Veteran's service connection claims for lower and upper extremity sciatica and radiculopathy are remanded due to a duty to assist error prior to the May 2018 RAMP opt-in. VA treatment records need to be obtained from non-VA providers.

The Veteran's chronic headaches are granted as being proximately due to his service-connected sleep apnea, hypertension, and PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hysterectomy, allergies, arthritis, eczema, and headaches. The evidence did not support a causal link to active service or an undiagnosed illness related to Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and treatment.

The Board denied service connection for joint pain and arthritis, bursitis, loss of sense of smell, loss of sense of taste, bronchitis, gastrointestinal disability (acquired), headaches, bilateral hearing loss, basal cell carcinoma residuals, linear scar of the left upper extremity post-basal cell carcinoma excision, nonlinear scar of the left upper extremity post-basal cell carcinoma excision, actinic keratosis, and residual scars from inguinal hernia repair.

The Board has decided that a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's headaches are related to his service-connected shrapnel wounds and any other relevant factors.

The Veteran's PTSD and related conditions, as well as his post-traumatic headaches, are being remanded for additional development to obtain updated VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at a non-initial evaluation of 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision.,Service connection for migraines has been granted as secondary to her service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current headaches and his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are not related to his service and are not otherwise causally or etiologically related to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.,The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is not related to his service and is not otherwise causally or etiologically related to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.,Prior to April 30, 2019, the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss was not manifested by more than Level II hearing impairment in either ear. After that date, it was not manifested by more than Level IV hearing impairment in either ear.,Beginning on May 1, 2019, the Veteran's right lower extremity sciatica was manifested by no more than moderate incomplete paralysis of the right sciatic nerve.,The Veteran’s left lower extremity sciatica is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.