Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment. The Board finds that he is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and determinations regarding his service-connected conditions, including increased ratings for Tension Headache Disability, Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (including Major Depressive Disorder), Bilateral Epicondylitis of the Right and Left Elbows, and GERD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an ulcer has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Board has remanded several issues including left shoulder, right wrist and right-hand disabilities, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, residuals of fractured ribs, bilateral hearing loss, gastritis, hemorrhoids, and migraine headaches for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment, and his claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions and lay statements.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DDD of the lumbar spine, migraine headaches, left thumb arthritis and bilateral plantar fasciitis are remanded due to her inability to attend recent VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a migraine headache disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to his military service. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for migraines, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed again as new medical examinations are needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, migraines, a neck disability, a pulmonary disability, bilateral knee disabilities, hernia, sciatic nerve disability, bilateral foot disabilities, frostbite, and hypertension. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to the ratings for various service-connected disabilities and several other claims. The case is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need to obtain additional information regarding the Veteran’s ability to care for himself.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is granted a 40 percent rating, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for his headache syndrome and mild inactive gastritis and esophagitis, as well as his claim for a TDIU based on these conditions, need to be remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,Her migraines headaches are currently rated at 50 percent from June 11, 2007 to January 21, 2016 and at 30 percent since then.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since at least November 21, 2013. The Board finds that the criteria for entitlement to a TDIU have been met.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to incomplete documentation and the need for a VA examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and headaches and confusion associated with it due to the appellant's request for withdrawal.

The Board has reopened the claims for neck, right shoulder, and migraine headache disabilities due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent since August 17, 2018. The Board also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches.

The Board has decided to remand both issues of service connection for a headache disability and a multisystem undiagnosed illness related to service in Southwest Asia. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's complaints are symptoms of an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained multisymptom illness based on his service in the Gulf War.