Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided in response to the April 2018 remand request were inadequate for rating purposes, and thus requires corrective action. The Veteran's low back disability, headaches, and sleep disorder claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and PTSD, is granted as secondary to a traumatic brain injury. The initial rating of 30 percent for posttraumatic headaches from July 30, 2009, is granted. However, the claim for a higher rating for posttraumatic headaches is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for migraine condition, hypertensive vascular disease, and depression due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The claim to reopen the service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted. PTSD and major depressive disorder are granted, but with remand for increased rating evaluations. The claims for TBI and migraine headaches are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, TBI, and migraines render her unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability, were denied. The claim for headaches was also denied. Other rating decisions were made regarding the Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy, hallux valgus of both feet, and ureterolithiasis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened, and he is now granted a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches. His PTSD claims were partially successful with a 70 percent rating from January 24, 2013 onwards. The compensable ratings for bilateral thigh scars and traumatic brain injury are pending.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a low back condition and headaches due to insufficient evidence, including the need for additional medical opinions and updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to initial increased ratings for migraine headaches and tenosynovitis of the right wrist since March 14, 2018 due to pending procedural issues.

The Veteran is granted service connection for various musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, including neck pain, low back pain, shoulder pain, wrist pain, hip pain, arm and hand pain, knee pain, foot pain, headaches, and skin symptoms. These conditions are presumed to be related to his military service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including chronic fatigue, headache disability, chronic constipation, muscle aches, and neurocognitive disability. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for headaches and memory loss condition have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The right hand strain, cervical spine disability, fibromyalgia, CTE, headache condition, colloid cyst of the brain, and TBI issues are being remanded for further evaluation.,VA treatment records should be obtained. A VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right hand disability.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis with hyposmia is not entitled to an extraschedular rating.,From February 6, 2014, to June 15, 2017, the Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for his headache disability. Since then, he has been denied any higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the claims for service connection were not addressed as they are moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for migraine headaches and a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spine disability due to insufficient information regarding the frequency and severity of his migraines, as well as functional loss during flareups and with repeated use over time.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding stroke, headaches, respiratory disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines has been reopened and is granted. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for right knee patellofemoral syndrome, right shoulder pain, chronic headaches, head injury with facial reconstruction (now claimed as traumatic brain injury), and cervical strain were denied. The claim for CTS of the right wrist was granted.,The Veteran's requests to increase his PTSD rating and service connection for substance abuse secondary to PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headaches and PTSD have been granted increased ratings, while other issues remain pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for an extraschedular rating for migraine headaches and TDIU prior to September 27, 2012 due to referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service.