Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to her service-connected lumbar spine disability, and whether her headaches are secondary to her cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for shin splints, skin disability (including residuals of shingles), and migraine headaches due to service connection. The claims are being returned for additional development including obtaining complete service treatment records, VA examination reports, and a determination on dental issues.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines, including migraine variants with tension, are not shown to be productive of characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one episode in two months over the last several months. Therefore, his claim for an initial compensable evaluation is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected headaches and service connection for PTSD due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's reported stressor incidents.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, including asthma and chest pains. The Veteran's current diagnosis of asthma is not related to his active duty service.,The Board also denied service connection for memory loss, finding no evidence of such during or recent to the filing of the claim. The Veteran was not diagnosed with memory loss until 2003, approximately eleven years after separation from active service.,Service connection for migraines was denied as well. The August 2016 VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's migraine headaches are likely due to multiple head traumas occurring after his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for a heart disability. The Veteran's pericarditis diagnosis is not related to his active duty service, and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it began during service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of cold injury to bilateral hands and feet, as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection was also denied for the Veteran's sleep disorder, which the Board found not related to active duty service. The Board noted that post-service medical records did not show any diagnosis of sleep apnea.,The Board determined that the Veteran’s low back disability is not service connected, as there is no evidence linking his current condition to in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities and for a compensable rating for migraine headaches due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the presence and etiology of these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis (lumbar spine disability), asthma, and tension headaches. The effective dates were assigned based on the Veteran's requests.,The earlier effective date of April 30, 1999 for the grant of service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis was granted as requested by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea and headache disability for further development to obtain medical opinions regarding their relationship to service, specifically whether they are related to the Veteran's hip disabilities or undiagnosed illnesses.

The Veteran's tension headaches were granted service connection. The issue of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current residuals of a TBI, including headaches and memory loss, arose during active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C service connection is denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's headache disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as it began during service and is aggravated by his PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease and chronic headache disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability, sleep apnea, and TBI. The Veteran's claims for PTSD and headaches are remanded.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran’s claimed conditions as there is no credible evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the claim of an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to May 1, 2018 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter. The Veteran’s scar from inguinal hernia surgery is rated at 10%. Other claims are being remanded.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia, cervical arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and headaches (secondary to PTSD) are all pending and need further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a gynecological condition, other than fourth degree tear with rectovaginal fistula and female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD), hysterectomy scar, neck condition, and headaches.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for syphilis is dismissed.,Service connection for a bilateral knee condition and a bilateral hand/wrist condition are denied.,Service connection for hypertension, migraines, microcytic anemia (due to Camp Lejeune water exposure), and myelodysplastic syndrome (due to Camp Lejeune water exposure) is not established.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder as it had already been granted in a previous rating decision.,Service connection was denied for bilateral knee disability, hypertension, and headaches.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a headache disorder. The Veteran did not have current chronic conditions related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection, including arthritis in his neck, back, and knees. The main reasons are missing medical records and improper grouping of disabilities.