Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tension headaches as secondary to needle trauma to nerve in the left lower jaw area was denied. His initial rating for needle trauma to nerve in the left lower jaw was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for a heart condition, respiratory condition, migraines, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been granted. The claim for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of right shin, cellulitis of the right thigh, and sleep apnea conditions has been dismissed. The Veteran's tension headaches have been granted with a current rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The appeal to increase this rating is denied.,New evidence has been added to the record that suggests a possible positive nexus between the Veteran’s stomach disability and her military service. As such, the claim for service connection of the stomach disability is granted as new and material evidence has been received.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities (PTSD and other specified depressive disorder and other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder) are reopened due to new evidence that suggests a possible positive nexus between her current diagnoses and military service. The claim for service connection of the acquired psychiatric disability is granted as new and material evidence has been received.,The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded for further examination and rating consideration.,The Veteran's left knee disability is remanded for further examination and rating consideration.,The Veteran's stomach disability (likely GERD) is remanded to determine if it is related to service, specifically the November 1981 diagnosis of mild gastroenteritis or a report of coughing up blood during service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities are remanded for further examination and rating consideration. The examiner must also consider whether her PTSD is related to an in-service personal assault.,The Veteran's low back disability is remanded for further examination and rating consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's TBI and its residuals, including headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, and cervical spine disorder. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are believed to be related to an in-service HUMVEE accident. A new examination is needed to determine if there is a link between his current symptoms and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to technical issues with his hearing transcript and because the appeal was returned without the AOJ, requiring further action before adjudication can proceed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury with anxiety disorder and headaches, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the criteria for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability were met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD and tension headaches have been granted increased ratings, with the PTSD receiving a 70% rating from October 27, 2016, and a 50% rating for the period of October 19, 2009, to October 26, 2016. The Veteran's tension headaches have been granted a 50% rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his educational and occupational background, thus TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional information and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and migraine headaches due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for fibromyalgia, headaches, and tremors were denied as the new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's claims to establish service connection for a heart disability, obstructive sleep apnea, major depressive disorder with anxious distress features, and tension headaches have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection has been granted for major depressive disorder with anxious distress features, obstructive sleep apnea, and tension headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened, and he is granted service connection for headaches. Service connection for OSA is denied. The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent throughout the period under review. His type two diabetes mellitus is currently rated as 20 percent disabling with no additional peripheral neuropathy disabilities. Increased ratings are granted for right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for residuals of concussion and chronic headaches was granted. However, the claim for TBI residuals was denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his in-service head injury.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, a neurological disability (other than headaches), and a heart disability are denied. Service connection is granted for headaches only.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder was granted with an effective date of December 15, 2015. The claim for a headache disability was denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for obstructive sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, psychiatric disabilities, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, nasal fracture residuals, left hand disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, headache, sinus disability, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction. The Board also remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for herpes simplex.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 14, 2015 for Reactive Airway Disease (RAD) is denied as there is no evidence of a claim or entitlement prior to that date.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied because the Veteran did not have tinnitus during service and it is not related to his military service.