Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain missing VA and private treatment records, as well as to schedule the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations. The claims will be readjudicated based on this new evidence.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for left shoulder disorder and right shoulder disorder was denied.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to inadequate previous examinations, particularly regarding the Veteran's headache disability and lower back disability.

Effective dates of October 14, 2013 have been granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. An effective date earlier than January 14, 2008 has been denied for persistent depressive disorder.,Secondary service connection for migraines (aggravated by PTSD and tinnitus) and obstructive sleep apnea (aggravated by PTSD) have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acute pharyngitis, athlete’s heart syndrome, myalgia and myositis, acute lumbosacral strain, bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability (acute shoulder strain), sleep apnea, varicocele and/or orchitis disability, actinic keratosis, and headaches have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and right knee disability are being remanded.

The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD with TBI, effective November 30, 2015.,His right shoulder arthritis and thoracolumbar spine arthritis were both rated at the maximum available under their respective diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease and migraines as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, finding that there is at least equipoise of evidence regarding whether these conditions were aggravated by his PTSD medications.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,An initial 50 percent rating for cephalgia (headaches) from January 8, 2013 is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines headaches have precluded her from securing and maintaining gainful employment since July 17, 2013.

The Board found that the Veteran's migraine headaches are not related to her military service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's headache disability is granted service connection as secondary to PTSD. The left hand disability and hypertension are both remanded for further examination, while the left knee disability remains in a state of pending appeal.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. His PTSD rating prior to July 1, 2014, is increased to 70 percent. The issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 28, 2017, is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's eczema is now rated at 30% from December 2, 2019.,For the period from March 31, 2011 to December 1, 2019, her eczema was not rated higher than 0%

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination of the Veteran's headaches and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for TMJ service connection was dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal.,Service connection granted for tinnitus, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of meningitis and headaches, satisfied with the current rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records regarding the Veteran's service in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and New Jersey Army National Guard. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a headache disorder, which he claims began during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, headaches, and sleep disorder were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for a skin disorder. Headaches and sleep disorders were also denied as there is no competent evidence of their onset in or related to service.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at a 30 percent disability rating from August 11, 2012 to May 25, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms met the criteria for a 30 percent rating during this period.

The Veteran's chronic migraine headaches are rated at 50% prior to January 31, 2017. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition.