Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of whether separate ratings are warranted for multiple sclerosis manifestations including left leg numbness/weakness with mid foot drop, bowel urgency, sleep disturbance, headaches, chronic fatigue, heat sensitivity, and jaw spasms.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, TBI, and migraine headaches have been reopened. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The claim of service connection for TBI is denied. A VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran’s psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and headaches due to incomplete development of the record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and needs a new one from VA.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for sinusitis, but denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and TDIU. The case is being remanded to obtain information about the Veteran's employment history during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraines and photophobia was granted effective June 2, 2016. The Board found that the increase in disability occurred within one year prior to the date of his formal claim on June 2, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and chronic maxillary sinusitis do not render her unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, as she has a combined disability rating of 60 percent. The Board denied TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and he was granted a TDIU from November 7, 2019. The Board also found that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to November 7, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period and noting that the Veteran's STRs did not show any complaints or diagnoses related to such condition. The claim was also denied for chronic headache disability as secondary to service-connected depression.,Service connection was granted for chronic headaches due to service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder, an initial rating higher than 10 percent for hypertension, and an initial rating higher than 30 percent for migraines. The appeal regarding status post hemorrhoidectomy with internal and external hemorrhoids was remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected headaches, finding that there is at least an even balance of evidence supporting this determination.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10% rating, but her migraine headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome are denied initial compensable ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are remanded due to inadequate examinations, missing VA treatment records, and new evidence not being considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death and whether service-connected disabilities contributed to it. The Veteran died from a brain tumor, but without known pathology of the brain mass, no definite determination can be made on whether the brain mass was related to military service or metastasized from his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis has affected less than 5 percent of his entire body and exposed areas, requiring no more than topical therapy throughout the appeal period. The claim for a compensable rating is denied.,The claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and PTSD are remanded due to new evidence not having been considered in the most recent decision.,PTSD remains rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches due to inconsistencies in the evidence and a need for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unemployable, and the Board finds that TDIU is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, headaches, right knee disability, left knee disability, and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the January 2012 rating decision.,However, the claims are still pending as they have been remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's migraine headaches, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100.