Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a headache disorder due to conflicting evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for daily headaches, rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and thoracolumbar spine strain, and rating in excess of 50 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology and severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for right upper extremity radiculopathy secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability and his claim for headaches due to in-service combat injuries.

The Board has denied service connection for all listed conditions as there is no current diagnosis of any disability and the Veteran did not provide a lay description of his symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to joint pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), migraine headaches, sleep disturbance, muscle pain, and weight loss are remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the nature of his diagnoses and their relationship to service. The Board finds that a Gulf War Protocol examination is necessary to determine the current etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for eczema and migraines, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or Gulf War exposure. The Veteran's claims were based on direct service connection rather than the presumptive conditions.

The Board denied service connection for numbness and pain of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, migraines, hypertension, and a psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder and depression).,There is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, muscle spasms, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and hypertension have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a current disability related to military service or any other valid basis for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a headache disorder and low back disability as the Veteran's claimed injuries were not established in service.

The Board has remanded several claims, including service connection for fatigue, breathing problems/chest pain, skin rashes, and TDIU. The Veteran's tension headaches are not rated higher than noncompensable.

Service connection granted for a psychiatric disorder (MDD) and headaches.,Service connection denied for left wrist disorder.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bronchitis, gastroenteritis, epididymitis, dermatophytosis, tinea versicolor, headaches, plantar fasciitis, and plantar warts have been denied as there is no current diagnosis for any of these conditions.,For the right elbow disability, a compensable rating prior to July 15, 2013, has been denied. A 10 percent rating was granted beginning July 15, 2013.

The Veteran's headaches are granted service connection and the Board finds it is at least as likely as not that his headaches are secondary to his cervical spine disability. The remaining issues of increased evaluations for osteoarthritis of the hands and cervical spine are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic headaches, as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. A new VA medical opinion is needed to address whether the Veteran’s chronic headaches were caused by or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches and bilateral optic disability due to issues with the nature of his etiology, including a need for additional medical evidence and development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability has been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria to establish service connection.,Service connection was denied for lumbosacral strain (low back disability) and headaches due to lack of in-service diagnosis or causation.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic headaches have been rated at 50% since August 30, 2017. The Board found that the symptoms of very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks are productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals of the denials of service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted a 30 percent rating prior to September 2014 and a 50 percent rating as of September 2014.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the reopening of a previously denied claim for major depressive disorder, as well as claims for tinnitus, hypertension, headaches, PTSD, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance and/or housebound status, left wrist limitation of motion, and Parkinson's disease under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.