Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to October 7, 2011, and denied from October 7, 2011, to August 31, 2012. The Board found that the Veteran met the criteria for a TDIU based on all service-connected disabilities during the period prior to October 7, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, left hip disability, right ankle disability, low back disability, neck disability and migraine headaches. The Board found that the evidence supports these claims as they are related to the Veteran's in-service injuries.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date of July 24, 2017, for a 30% initial evaluation for service-connected migraine headaches because no issues were adjudicated in the April 2018 rating decision and there was no jurisdiction to consider the issue.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of TBI, including headaches, needs further investigation and is therefore remanded.

The Veteran's chronic headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. A TDIU is granted for the period from May 15, 2014, to May 20, 2015.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected asthma. Other conditions are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board granted a 50 percent evaluation for migraine headaches, effective from November 22, 2013. Service connection was not established for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric condition, tinnitus, or heart murmur with history of myocardial infarctions.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, but denied claims for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and Somatic Symptom Disorder) and fibromyalgia.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and headaches, both of which are found to be caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches, finding that these conditions are caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected shoulder and knee disabilities as well as his tinnitus.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a left ear infection, and a right ankle disability due to lack of diagnosis during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches with hypotension and vertigo are currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 8100. The appeal is remanded as the Veteran contends her condition warrants a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a skin condition and migraine headaches due to insufficient compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's skin condition claim requires further examination, while his migraine headache claim needs an opinion regarding its onset during service or causation by a service-connected disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression was reopened, but the claim remains denied as there is no credible supporting evidence that an in-service stressor occurred.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a migraine disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and/or acquired psychiatric disorder, is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted. The remaining issues on appeal, including service connection and rating claims, were dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment from October 18, 2013. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, and migraines due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for substance abuse was also denied as it is not secondary or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and posttraumatic headaches were denied, while a separate rating of 40 percent was granted for the residuals of TBI.