Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraines is granted, with a 50 percent disability rating. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is also granted, but only to a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating for migraines and TDIU due to inadequate reasoning in the previous decision regarding the severity of his headaches.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for folliculitis of the back, dizziness, chronic fatigue syndrome and malaise, migraine headaches, dyshidrotic eczema, joint pain, and gastroesophageal reflux are now reopened. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives, particularly regarding the examination and opinion provided by the VA examiner.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be related to his service-connected cervical spine disability, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder from May 25, 2017 was denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and migraine headaches were denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for fracture of left ankle with degenerative joint disease is remanded.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of chronic sinusitis, post-concussion syndrome (including chronic headaches), or residuals of right wrist fracture incurred during the Veteran's active military service.,Service connection for these conditions was denied as the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current disability is related to the Veteran’s military service.

The Board has decided to remand several service connection and increased rating claims due to incomplete records, including missing STRs and VA treatment records. The Veteran's PTSD claim is also remanded for a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches is granted. The Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's mixed headache disorder with migraine features, PFB, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder are all granted. A 10 percent rating is assigned for PFB.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left elbow disability did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to a disease or injury incurred in service. The claim for service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that they do not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, and hair loss. The Veteran's vision problems, tension headaches, shoulder conditions, knee conditions, ankle conditions, and back condition are being remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be related to his current conditions, including alcoholic liver cirrhosis, lung disability, cardiomegaly with sinus bradycardia, headaches (migraines), and tinnitus. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions based on secondary service connection.

Service connection is granted for lumbar spine bilateral pars defect L5-S1 with spondylolisthesis and degenerative changes. The Veteran's headaches are remanded to determine if they are related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches has been granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran’s sleep apnea should be remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's DDD with spondylolisthesis of L5-S1 is restored to a 40 percent rating.,Service connection for depressive disorder, sleep apnea, and headaches are granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to December 18, 2017 and 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for her IBS with GERD.,For the period from September 11, 2017 to December 17, 2017, the Veteran's IBS with GERD disability was rated as 30 percent disabling. Since then, she has been denied any increase in rating.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, the highest possible rating under VA guidelines for this condition. The severity and frequency of his attacks have been found to be severe enough to cause very frequent prostrating and prolonged attacks that significantly impact his ability to work.