Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraines was denied as her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations related to the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tension headaches and generalized anxiety disorder are inadequate. Therefore, the cases are being remanded for new examinations.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable disability rating for tension headaches prior to January 12, 2016 was denied. From January 12, 2016 onwards, the Veteran is already in receipt of the highest schedular rating available (50 percent).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, acne, and tension headaches as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The Veteran was not provided with all necessary information about his SSA disability benefits and decisions.

The Board has found procedural errors and is remanding the case for further action, including issuing a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to an administrative error in the previous decision.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches, claimed as secondary to his service-connected idiopathic orthostasis with syncope (also claimed as epilepsy), is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and unclear opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for post-concussive headaches and remanded the issues of increased ratings for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability prior to March 9, 2017, and from March 9, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of migraine headache disorder is denied as it is not factually ascertainable that his symptoms worsened prior to September 26, 2018.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of residual scars from right knee diagnostic arthroscopy with fat pad excision is denied as the earliest date factually ascertainable is July 19, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left wrist strain and migraine headaches, but granted a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches effective October 14, 2016. The Board also denied service connection for sciatica, back disability, and left ankle disability.

The Board has found that substantial compliance with the remand directives is not established and further development is necessary. The Veteran's claim for higher staged initial ratings for chronic headaches, to include on an extraschedular basis, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for left eye ischemic optic neuropathy, residuals of a left eye central retinal artery occlusion, bilateral retinopathy, and a headache disability. The Veteran's pre-service eye injury is presumed to have been aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA and headaches secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis, with a 50% rating assigned for sinusitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dry eyes has been granted. The rating for bilateral hallux valgus remains at 10%. A maximum 50% disability rating for sinus headaches is granted from January 26, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's migraine, tension and cluster headaches as they are proximately due to his service-connected maxillary sinusitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to multiple conditions including dermatophytosis, post-traumatic headaches, painful scar, traumatic brain injury, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and instability of the left knee.

The Veteran's chronic headaches, enlarged prostate with lower urinary tract symptoms, and gastroesophageal reflux disease have been granted 10 percent evaluations. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, neurological disorder of the left lower extremity, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, and left hip disorder due to insufficient evidence or conflicting opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depression, finding that her migraines are reasonably shown to be related to or caused by her depression.