Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinea pedis, headaches, and asthma. Service connection was denied for a right knee disability.,For PTSD, the Veteran's initial rating in excess of 30 percent prior to November 17, 2014, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD remains rated at 50 percent, but the Board has remanded his claims for TBI residuals and related issues due to new evidence. The right knee disorder claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hand condition, back condition, neck condition, left arm condition, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and headaches have been denied. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a direct or secondary relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches prior to January 17, 2014, and to restore a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches as of March 30, 2016. The AOJ needs to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) considering all evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition has been granted.,Service connection for headaches as secondary to a service-connected psychiatric condition is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Board has granted a 30 percent initial rating for migraines headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximate characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over the last several months. The decision does not address service connection or any exposure basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headache condition is related to her service-connected cervical spine disability, and thus grants service connection for a headache condition.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at a 30 percent disability rating, effective from September 27, 2017. The Board found that the Veteran does not have very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks that are productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's TBI residuals are related to service. The VA needs to provide a medical opinion on this issue.

Service connection for PTSD has been granted, and the Veteran is receiving a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent for migraines since June 20, 2019.,The Veteran's right facial neuralgia (Trigeminal Neuralgia) is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has restored a 30 percent rating for tension headaches from September 13, 2016.

The Board has granted an effective date of August 17, 2007 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was due to his service-connected conditions, specifically his prescribed high-dose opioid pain medications and benzodiazepine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are remanded due to inadequate evidence. The claims for service connection of left ankle disability and migraine headaches also require additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The issues of increasing the ratings for post head injury headaches, TBI with cognitive impairment, and dizziness associated with TBI are all before the Board.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 30 percent rating as of January 17, 2016. Her right hip limitation of abduction is granted a 20 percent rating and her right hip limitation of flexion is granted a 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, as there is insufficient evidence of current symptomatology and functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection and evaluations for various conditions are remanded due to need for additional medical examinations.