Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. Service connection was denied for the remaining conditions: left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, generalized anxiety disorder, migraine headaches, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, blepharitis, tension headaches, hypertension, right shoulder condition, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board requires VA to obtain all outstanding treatment records from the San Juan VAMC and request relevant psychiatric treatment records from Dr. M.R.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was received after the August 2010 decision, warranting readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches and residuals cervical spine injury. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of these disabilities in relation to military service.

The Board has determined that the claims for headaches, neck condition (claimed as lower back condition), and right lower sciatica are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's representative asserts continuity of symptoms since active service. The claim for transient ischemic attacks is denied.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including dementia, chronic pancreatitis, and various neuropathies. The SMC rating is at the P-2 level.

The Board has identified the need to obtain additional medical records and remands the case for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, skin disability, left knee disability, BTM, and headaches have been denied. The Veteran's psychiatric disability claim is remanded.,The Veteran's psychiatric disability claim includes PTSD, depression, and anxiety. A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's depression is granted, and his headaches are found to be proximately due to his service-connected depression. The Board also grants a compensable evaluation for the residual fracture of the displacement of left zygoma and zygomatic arch.

The Board has denied service connection for active tuberculosis, athlete's foot, frontal headaches, esophageal reflux, hypertension, and left eye disability with corneal abrasion. The Veteran does not have a current disability for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for extra-schedular consideration by the Director of Compensation and Pension Service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraines, tremors (initially claimed as stroke residuals), sinusitis, respiratory disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and right hip disability are all remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and her military service.,Specifically, the VA examiner's opinions on the causes of migraines and tremors were inadequate. The examiner did not address the Veteran’s lay statements about symptoms during and since active duty.

The Board has ordered additional development for the Veteran's claims due to errors in prior determinations and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and migraines, finding that there was no direct or secondary service connection based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for service-connected migraine headaches has been dismissed without prejudice due to procedural errors in the legacy review system. The Board does not have jurisdiction over this case as it was withdrawn from the legacy system and entered into the AMA review process.

The Veteran's headaches and left shoulder strain have been granted service connection. The Board has also determined that the Veteran is entitled to a 30% rating for his perineal laceration with colostomy, but not higher.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for migraine and tension headaches was granted, but the maximum schedular disability rating of 50 percent is still not met prior to September 13, 2017.,Service connection for degenerative disc disease of C4-C7 with multilevel spinal and neuroforaminal stenosis secondary to traumatic brain injury remains remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbar spondylosis with degenerative changes at L5-S1, erectile dysfunction, headaches, cervical spondylosis with degenerative changes of the cervical spine at C4-C5, and right knee degenerative arthritis with medial meniscus tear are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional evidence in several areas, including PTSD severity since January 2010, TDIU prior to February 26, 2013, and SMC based on aid and attendance needs.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and PTSD have been granted. The Veteran's fatigue, gastrointestinal disorder, and headaches related to Persian Gulf War service are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to her service-connected schizoaffective disorder.,Service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability is denied.