Migraines & headaches decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to a single service-connected disability, finding that her combined impact of multiple service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are characterized by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, resulting in severe economic inadaptability. The Board has granted a maximum 50 percent rating for the service-connected migraine headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service due to continuous post-service symptoms and a presumption under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for migraine headaches was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a generalized anxiety disorder, has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran suffered from these conditions during service and that they are related to his in-service experiences.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee condition, headache condition, chronic nose bleeds, TBI, sternal chest pain, and memory loss to include as due to an undiagnosed illness or secondary to his service-connected schizoaffective disorder. The remand requires additional examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including chronic fatigue, sinus disability, respiratory disability (bronchitis), cardiac disability, bowel disability, gastric ulcer disability, sleep apnea, and headaches. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability was reopened due to new evidence received.

The Veteran's benign chronic leukocytosis is currently rated as noncompensable and not entitled to a higher rating.,From June 7, 2011, the Veteran's muscle contraction type headaches with migraine features are rated at 50 percent. The Veteran has been granted the maximum possible schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 8100 for this condition.,The Veteran's PTSD with depression is currently rated as 70 percent and not entitled to a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the reduction in rating for migraine headaches from 10 percent to noncompensable was improper and has restored the 10 percent evaluation. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, but denied for all other conditions.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress features is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of claim. Service connection for fibromyalgia, CFS, hypertension, IBS, and a headache disorder are granted. The Veteran also receives a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for IVDS of the cervical spine is denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation under the general formula for diseases and injuries of the spine.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left shoulder bursitis was denied. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for migraines and right knee disability due to insufficient opinions in the previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been granted a 100% disability rating effective July 21, 2016. Service connection for OSA, hypertension secondary to PTSD, and migraine headaches secondary to PTSD have also been granted.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as there was insufficient evidence to show that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for depression, vertigo, and headaches have been granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's GERD is granted a rating of 30 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's migraine headaches are denied any increase in rating. The Veteran is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and migraine headaches has been partially granted. The Veteran is now receiving an initial 30 percent rating for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's initial claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and migraines were denied. The Board found that the current ratings assigned did not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for higher evaluations due to the severity of his symptoms. Service connection for a low back disorder was remanded.