Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals regarding service connection and rating issues, including those related to sleep apnea, headaches, seasonal allergic rhinitis, lumbar strain, neuropathy of the left lower extremity (LLE), TDIU, and DEA. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his award of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU), finding that the evidence did not support a finding of unemployability prior to December 21, 2011.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and service connection have been dismissed.,The Board has remanded several issues including those related to the Veteran's knees, ankles, feet, lumbar spine, and headaches.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of brain tumor and headaches, but denied both claims as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

An effective date of January 23, 2015 for the grant of service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy is granted.,Effective dates earlier than June 27, 2016 are denied for the grants of service connection for tension headaches, TBI, tinnitus, mixed anxiety depressive disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease.,The Veteran's December 31, 2015 claim referenced neurological damage which should have been recognized as claims including TBI and the nerve damage in his bilateral shoulders. However, no head injury nor left shoulder neurological damage was mentioned.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right-hand burn residuals, as well as their impact on his occupational and daily functioning. The claims are not about service connection but rather about rating determinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates for PTSD, IBS/GERD, migraine headaches, and myalgia have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU have been granted. However, the issue of a compensable evaluation for colon cancer remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is related to his active duty service. The other claims for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or a relationship between the conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, including degenerative disc disease status post laminectomies with right lower extremity radiculopathy, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluations for right foot hallux valgus and left foot hallux valgus were denied. An initial evaluation of 10 percent was granted for headaches, but the Veteran's dermatitis claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, right hip synovitis, meralgia paresthetica of the lower extremities, degenerative arthritis with spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and chronic headaches have been granted. The claim for service connection for hearing loss has been denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and major depression have been denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service-connected. The right, low back, and left foot disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for GERD and headaches, but has remanded both issues due to a lack of VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, a respiratory disability, headaches, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to their relationship with undiagnosed illnesses. The Veteran needs additional examinations to determine if he has current disabilities related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder and a sleep disorder have been denied.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder has also been denied, as the evidence does not support an increase in disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to various disabilities, including PTSD, hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, right ankle disability, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, chronic fatigue syndrome, joint pain, muscle pain, headaches, cardiovascular symptoms, respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed for these claims.

The Veteran's asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, and posttraumatic headaches have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also granted an initial rating of 10 percent for his posttraumatic headaches. However, the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 50 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the decision.,Service connection for a right shoulder condition is remanded due to lack of clear evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and new evidence. The issues include right shoulder disability, hypertension, and migraine disability.