Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for cervical degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and spondylosis, erectile dysfunction, and headaches.,Reasoning: The Veteran's service treatment records document multiple episodes of neck pain and back strain during service. Post-service x-rays also show degenerative changes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of sufficient evidence. The issues include PTSD and depression, tinnitus, back disability, dental condition, and headaches.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including sensitivity to cigarette smoke and related symptoms, are remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board finds that additional development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, headaches, fibromyalgia, and neuropsychological symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder to include obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic sleep disorder during service or that it is caused by his service-connected migraine and/or cluster headaches.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia was granted a rating of 40 percent prior to March 21, 2012. Additionally, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and tension headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The effective dates are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus type II is granted at a 20 percent rating, effective from November 19, 2015. The Veteran also receives a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's back disability and headaches.,Specifically, the examiner should address whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or more probability) that the Veteran’s back disability had its onset in or is etiologically-related to his active duty service.

The Board has found that additional development is required before adjudication can proceed for the Veteran's claim of service connection for migraine headaches. The case will be remanded to obtain updated medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to address his claimed conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea, memory loss, back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, left foot disability, tinnitus, migraine headaches, and erectile dysfunction (ED). The claims are being remanded to obtain VA examinations and determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or any other service-connected condition.

The Veteran's initial rating for mixed type headaches prior to April 8, 2019 is denied as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a foot disability, depression, and migraine headaches as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine/tension headaches, secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The decision is based on new evidence submitted after a previous denial.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for seizure disability and fibromyalgia are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral gynecomastia, tinnitus, and chronic headaches. Service connection was granted for PTSD with a rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tension headaches prior to October 5, 2017, and an evaluation higher than 30 percent thereafter is being remanded due to the submission of additional evidence after the issuance of the Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's claim to reopen the right hip disability was granted. The claims for sleep disorder (claimed as Sleep Apnea) and migraine were denied, as they are not separate disabilities from PTSD and fibromyalgia. The rating for PTSD remains at 70 percent, and the rating for fibromyalgia remains at 40 percent.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, and he is granted TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.