Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected headaches, finding that her condition meets the criteria for this rating based on very frequent and prolonged attacks causing severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for migraine headaches, hypertension, and sleep apnea due to new evidence received since the last decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are reopened, but the Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain a VA examination and provide opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for dental disability, obstructive sleep apnea, prostate disorder, hypertension (HTN), and migraine disorder. The Veteran did not have these conditions during active duty or within one year of separation from active duty. There is no evidence linking any of these disabilities to active duty service.

A 30 percent rating for migraines is granted from July 7, 2015 to March 5, 2019. A higher rating for migraines is denied.,A 30 percent disability rating for acne is granted effective March 5, 2019. The Veteran's acne was rated as superficial prior to this date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to his ability to dress himself, keep himself clean, feed himself, attend to personal needs, and protect himself from daily hazards.

The Veteran's ratings for Posttraumatic Headache Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury were restored to their previous levels due to the lack of improvement in symptoms.

The Board has partially vacated the December 2018 decision, addressing service connection for schizophrenia and headaches. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as it cannot be granted on a secondary basis due to denial of service connection for schizophrenia.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his left knee disability was denied, as the highest possible rating (60%) has already been assigned. The issue related to migraine headaches on an extraschedular basis was also denied.,The Veteran’s claim for TDIU is remanded due to unclear employment information.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right-foot drop, as secondary to IVDS, was denied.,Claims for increased disability evaluations in excess of 10 percent for right-lower-extremity and left-lower-extremity sciatic-nerve radiculopathy were also denied.,An earlier effective date of February 3, 2017 for a 30 percent disability evaluation for tension headaches was granted.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis B, chronic fatigue, heartburn and indigestion, and headaches as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis or a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.,Service connection is denied for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence linking the current disabilities to his active duty service.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus, effective March 30, 2015.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there was no case or controversy before it. The Veteran's earlier effective dates, increased ratings, and total disability rating claims were decided in a May 2019 decision. A May 2020 rating decision granted service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be related to his active service.,There is no evidence of residuals from a left pinky fracture or heat injury during the appeal period.,The Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence to establish current residuals from a heat injury, and thus this claim remains denied.,A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran currently suffers from dry eye syndrome related to his active service.

Your claim for service connection for migraine headaches, to include as secondary to service-connected degenerative disc disease of the L5-S1 vertebrae, has been granted and is effective from September 24, 2009.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for headaches, fatigue, bilateral arm disability, bilateral leg disability, and bilateral hip disability due to a lack of service treatment records from the Veteran's first period of service. The VA examiner is requested to provide an opinion on the etiology and pathophysiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's application to reopen her claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied. The RO granted a 50% rating for migraine headaches effective June 13, 2017 and denied an increased rating for the iliopsoas muscle surgery disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection for depression and anxiety, as well as TDIU. The Veteran has not been diagnosed with sleep problems or a current disability related to his migraine headaches.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches remains denied.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received with respect to the previously denied service connection claims for a right eye disorder, left eye disorder, and migraine disorder. The Veteran's heart disorder claim is also remanded due to procedural errors.