Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several claims related to various disabilities, including chronic pain and fatigue, knee and shoulder injuries, headaches, psychiatric disorders, and TMJ. The Veteran's service-connected orthopedic disabilities are currently rated at 100 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder), headaches, including migraines, and a low back disability. The other conditions remain denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for migraine headaches was granted as of May 16, 2012. His PTSD was also granted with a 70% disability rating effective from the same date.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there is no evidence of prostrating attacks or severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to procedural issues and the need for a statement of the case regarding the earlier effective date for service connection for headaches. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation due to her mental and physical impairments.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% since February 7, 2008. Her TMJ syndrome is rated at 20% starting January 31, 2017. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU due to her ability to maintain employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, including as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, requires further examination and opinion. The case is being remanded for a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, recurrent tinnitus, and headaches due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right, left knee disabilities, neck disability, back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), headaches, and ED have been granted service connection. A rating of 60 percent has also been assigned for the urethral stricture.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD prior to March 3, 2016 and from that date has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at a 50 percent since September 1, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms have more nearly approximated very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, right hand condition, and left hand condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right great toe disorder and a headache disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions began during or are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and eye disorder, are denied. The Board has also remanded the case to obtain examinations related to these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, neck, and headache disabilities as well as hypertension. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of her right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities. The Board found that she has PTSD due to military sexual trauma during service, bilateral hip replacements related to service, migraines also related to service, and tinnitus related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's frequent headaches are granted a separate evaluation of 30 percent. The Veteran’s cervical strain with degenerative disc disease and bilateral neural foraminal narrowing is remanded for an increase rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder condition, right knee condition, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected migraine headaches is remanded due to the need for a new examination.