Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and opinion, including service connection claims related to various musculoskeletal conditions, hearing loss, vision loss, and skin conditions. The heart condition claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current heart condition or any relationship to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition and denied it. The appeal for entitlement to service connection for headaches is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a headache condition is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination provided. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his headaches are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service records show exposure to herbicide agents while stationed on the USS Oriskany off the coast of Vietnam. The Board finds a remand is warranted for VA examination and review of deck logs to determine if he was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam during his service. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to assess skin conditions affecting the feet and legs, as well as headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a bilateral leg disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral foot disability, low back disability, and headaches due to insufficient evidence or lack of examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and consideration of her claims, including the issue of TDIU which is inextricably intertwined with her spine and headache disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for tension headaches, secondary to PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for low back disability, sciatic nerve condition, left foot disability, and headaches. The claims are now remanded to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at the maximum schedular rating, and his avitaminosis and chronic fatigue syndrome claims are denied. The Board finds that a remand is necessary for further examination regarding his degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, and sleep apnea.,The Veteran's service connection claims for fibromyalgia, avitaminosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome are denied. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, including those related to accrued benefits or substitution purposes. The issues include hearing loss, rheumatism, arthritis, pneumonia with pleural effusion, atherosclerotic aorta, headaches, and anemia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral hips and migraines has been reopened.,Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for service connection on secondary basis is remanded due to failure to comply with previous remand directives. The AOJ must obtain updated VA and private treatment records, reschedule missed VA examinations, and provide a VA examination if deemed necessary.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is dismissed.,A TDIU rating from June 29, 2017 to the present has been granted based on service-connected PTSD.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate was granted from January 15, 2019, but no earlier, due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including gunshot wounds, hearing loss, tinnitus, joint diseases, and disabilities of the elbows, shoulders, wrists, ankles, knees, lumbar spine, cervical spine, esophageal cancer, skin disorders, heart issues, respiratory problems, and memory loss. The decision was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of headaches has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal request.,A 40 percent rating is granted for TBI, effective from January 31, 2012.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss for VA compensation purposes.,Service connection claims for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, shortness of breath (undiagnosed illness), stomach condition (acid reflux/GERD), sleep apnea, varicose veins, and migraines/headaches are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches disability is being remanded due to the need for updated medical evidence and a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, gastrointestinal condition, sleep disorder, and fibromyalgia. The appeal regarding an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for cluster headaches is dismissed.