Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Veteran's application to reopen his service connection claims for headaches, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine (neck) disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability is granted. The claim for hypertension remains pending.

The Veteran's multi-symptom illness, including joint pain, muscle aches, chronic fatigue, headaches, neurologic symptoms, primary hypogonadism and insomnia, is granted as service connected due to Persian Gulf War service. The respiratory condition claim is remanded for further examination. The hypertension secondary to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's dry eye syndrome is granted with a 20 percent rating, and the maximum schedular evaluation for tinnitus is denied. Other claims are either denied or remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left hand disability due to her withdrawal at the hearing. The other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are being remanded for a new examination to assess the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of the severity of his service-connected TBI clinically distinguishable from PTSD, as well as the severity of his posttraumatic ocular migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for seizure disorder, PTSD, and closed head injury with cerebral contusion with post-traumatic headaches have been denied. The effective dates for these grants of service connection are not applicable as the earliest date is February 10, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, migraines, and peripheral neuropathy of both hands and feet due to incomplete records and unclear etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, migraines, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as the evidence does not establish a direct link to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current migraine headaches began during his service and are related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed the claims for diabetes mellitus type II and schizophrenia. The hearing loss disability claim was reopened, but the issues of left hip, right hip, back, and headache disabilities were remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for headache disability and sleep apnea have been reopened, but the Board has determined that new evidence is needed to fully adjudicate these claims. The Veteran's headaches may be related to his service-connected sinusitis or now service-connected sleep apnea. Increased ratings are also requested for left and right ankle pain and sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and migraine headaches due to outstanding VA treatment records from two healthcare systems. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disability and denied service connection for migraine headaches. The reopening is based on new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, which includes details of the Veteran's in-service motor vehicle accident and post-service symptoms. Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence linking current low back disability to active military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a sleep disorder, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and an effective date earlier than September 18, 2017, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for lung disability, headaches, sleep apnea, hypertension, and esophagus disability due to incomplete search efforts for service medical records. The Veteran is required to provide additional information or evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for chronic headaches, mixed type, tensional, vasomotor, cervicogenic with migraine components was denied.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claims of service connection for cervical spine disability and lumbar spine condition were both denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for a rating in excess of 30 percent from June 15, 2015, for chronic tension headaches and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent from June 15, 2015, for PTSD have also been dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches as a result of head trauma, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support this determination. The Veteran reported and experienced symptoms since his military service, which were corroborated by medical records and lay statements.