Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The adjustment disorder claim was not granted, the right knee replacement rating remained at 30%, the back condition, migraines, and left hip condition claims were also denied, and a TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for chronic headaches prior to February 2, 2019 is denied. The right ankle disorder issue has been remanded due to the need for an examination.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder (social phobia and PTSD) from May 29, 2013 to February 4, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for the same condition was denied as of February 4, 2017.,TDIU is granted from May 29, 2013 to May 21, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for vertigo, headache disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate VA medical examination reports. New VA opinions are needed to adjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and the Board is remanding several issues including those related to PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorder, dizziness, low back condition, right and left foot conditions, and a right ankle condition. The Veteran must be scheduled for VA examinations to evaluate these claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines, finding that there is no evidence showing a causal relationship between his current migraines and his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's headaches and their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a skin condition was granted. Claims for bilateral pes planus, tension headaches, and orthostatic hypotension were denied as new and material evidence did not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD and migraines, since July 21, 2008. The decision grants TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective from that date.

The Board has found that another remand is necessary as the Veteran is entitled to substantial compliance with Board remand directives. The case was previously before the Board in June 2019, and it has been returned for appellate consideration.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, is granted. For the entire period on appeal, a rating of 30 percent for migraine headaches is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is denied as there are no current residuals of a TBI and the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his in-service injuries.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is denied as there is no medical evidence linking his current headaches to his in-service reports of headaches, which resolved after the IED blast.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral eye condition is denied as there is no ocular etiology or eye condition responsible for his subjective complaints of light sensitivity and eye pain.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for asthma, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, headaches, and left knee disorder due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to additional pertinent medical records and lay statements being associated with his case after previous Statements of the Case (SOCs). The Veteran was requested to provide a waiver for AOJ review, but instead requested that his case be sent back to the AOJ. The Board will issue an SSOC considering all evidence obtained since the last SOC.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for cervical spine disability was denied. However, he was granted separate ratings of 20 percent each for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy associated with his service-connected cervical spine disability from March 13, 2017. He was also granted a separate rating of 30 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy from November 4, 2019. Service connection for headaches as a neurological abnormality associated with his service-connected cervical spine disability was also granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of her service-connected migraines is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's initial rating of 30 percent for migraine headaches and 10 percent for CVA residuals is denied. The case is remanded due to inconsistencies in the Veteran’s reports over time.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of service connection for headaches. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disability, and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including evaluations for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar and cervical spines, bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, right and left carpal tunnel syndromes, and left arm numbness. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for headaches has been granted, with the effective date set at the date of receipt of her claim. The earlier effective dates for radiculopathy and depression have also been granted.