Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's tension headaches.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for service-connected migraine headaches is denied as it was not factually ascertainable that his condition had increased in severity prior to November 9, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a headache disability has been dismissed as the final June 2017 Board decision was not challenged and the August 2017 rating decision merely implemented that decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the VA examination reports. The Veteran's current diagnoses of migraines and PTSD are acknowledged, but there is not enough information on whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, but no higher. The Board found that the evidence was evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran’s migraines more nearly approximated the criteria for a 30 percent rating.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the upper left extremity is denied because there is no causal relationship between the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability and his radiculopathy. The Board found that the VA examiner did not adequately address the Veteran’s contentions regarding medication causing his sleep apnea.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing whether his sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service and was not diagnosed until after separation.,Hypertension did not manifest within one year of service discharge, and there is no evidence linking it to service.,There is no evidence of a TBI event during service or current residuals. The Veteran’s blacking out episodes are attributed to another cause.,Migraine headaches were not diagnosed until years after separation and do not have a clear link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his migraine headaches, right hip disability, and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran also has pending requests for increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for chronic sinusitis is dismissed. The Board finds that his claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for sinus headaches has no legal merit and denies it.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for joint pain, migraines, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to incomplete examination reports and lack of clarity on current disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disorder, now claimed as secondary to grand mal seizure disorder, is denied because there is no current diagnosis of a headache disorder and the evidence does not establish a link between the headaches and his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claim for a thoracic spine condition. The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted service connection, but the issues of hypertension and an acquired psychiatric condition (depression) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and inextricably intertwined issues. The claims will be further developed with examinations.

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are rated at a 30 percent disability rating, which is granted. The Veteran's TBI and PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder warrant further review as the current rating of 50 percent is not sufficient.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, depression, and asthma have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis and tension headaches, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and effective date issues are remanded due to missing VA and private treatment records, insufficient VA examination reports, and need for new examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasons for denying service connection for headaches as secondary to service-connected fibromyalgia. The Veteran's headaches are currently considered part of his rating for fibromyalgia.

The Board found new and material evidence for some claims but denied them based on lack of service connection criteria, while others were granted due to reopening the claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of residual surgical scars of the right anterior neck and right hip have been dismissed as they were previously adjudicated by the Board.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a disability of the right upper extremity has been granted, but the issues are remanded due to lack of proper venue.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied as the current 10 percent rating already reflects the impact of his tinnitus.,An effective date prior to June 5, 2015, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is not warranted due to lack of a formal or informal written communication indicating intent to apply for this benefit prior to that date.