Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis and headaches due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to hazardous materials in service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of grenade blast and migraine headaches have been granted. The Veteran experienced a grenade blast injury in service, resulting in shrapnel injuries to his face and current migraines that are linked to the deviated septum from the grenade blast.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches is remanded due to changes in his reported frequency of headaches since the last VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to November 7, 2018 for the grant of service connection for migraine headaches and right shoulder osteoarthritic changes associated with left shoulder tendonitis are denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines, and no higher rating can be granted.,Service connection for OSA has been established based on evidence showing that it likely began during service.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and thus must be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for headaches. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and has continued since then.,Service connection for bacterial sinusitis with rhinitis is granted, as the evidence is at least in equipoise that it began during service.,Right knee osteoarthritis is granted on reopening of a previously denied claim.,Migraine headaches are granted on reopening of a previously denied claim.,Bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted on reopening of a previously denied claim.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is established as the evidence supports its onset during service.,Cervical strain with degenerative joint disease is found to be related to service.,Lumbosacral strain with thoracolumbar spine osteoarthritis is found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral wrist, eye, and migraine headaches disabilities. The cases are being remanded for further development regarding his knee, spine, toe frostbite, and chest pain issues.

The Veteran's claims of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for various conditions are remanded due to the need for a medical opinion addressing whether these conditions resulted from events not reasonably foreseeable as a result of VA treatment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and therefore the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of a cerebral concussion with headaches and blackouts, finding that there is not clear and unmistakable evidence that the disability was not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's migraines are associated with his service-connected PTSD. His disability manifesting in memory loss, sleep problems, and night sweats is attributed to his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current chronic headaches had its onset during active duty service and remanded for further development regarding his left shoulder disability and skin disorder claims.

The Veteran's chronic migraines began during service and have continued since, meeting the criteria for service connection.,The Veteran's deviated septum was incurred in service due to trauma from boxing training.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for migraine headaches and hemorrhoids, finding no current disability due to active service. The claims of service connection for bilateral foot disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability were not readjudicated as new evidence was not submitted after the final denial in July 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, vestibular disorder, splenomegaly, and heart disability have been denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his service-connected Lyme disease.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a headache disability (claimed as migraine headaches) due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination. The appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather about whether the current condition may be related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional examinations or opinions, and requests that the Veteran provide authorization for release of private treatment records from before 2011.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his migraine headaches is remanded due to the internal contradiction in the VA examination report and the need for a new examination. Additional VA treatment records are also noted.