Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board dismissed the appeals as they are moot due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a nerve disability was granted, and he was awarded service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, headache disability, and TDIU. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unclear etiology of the Veteran's symptoms and need for further examination. The Veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for his TBI with residual headaches and giddiness, but the nature and cause of other symptoms such as anxiety disorder and unspecified neurocognitive disorder are also under review.

The Veteran's TBI, bilateral hearing loss, and headaches are all rated at the lowest possible compensable level. The Board has granted a rating of 10 percent for each condition.

The Veteran's appeal of attorney fees for past-due benefits awarded in a February 2019 rating decision is denied. The amount was calculated correctly based on the effective date from September 15, 2015 to February 22, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for his service-connected disabilities is dismissed as the earliest possible effective date, January 1, 2019, has already been assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and hypertension, have rendered her unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae with dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and migraine headaches were all remanded for further review.,Service connection was not established for any of the conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, headaches, and psychiatric disorder, render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective September 2, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, sleep apnea, and a cervical spine disability are granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is not reopened. Service connection for tinnitus is denied. An evaluation in excess of 20 percent for left foot contusion residuals with pes planus and lumbar scoliosis with sprain is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a headache disability as secondary to his service-connected hypertension or hypertension-related medication, finding that there was no evidence linking the headaches to his hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy were dismissed. The claim for service connection was granted with an effective date prior to April 15, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions due to incomplete VA medical records and missing audiometric test results.

The Board has granted a 50% rating for headaches since June 30, 2020. The Veteran's prior claim of a higher rating was denied due to insufficient evidence considered in the initial decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headache disorder first manifested during service and is related to his inservice injury, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of migraine headaches, osteoarthritis, cervical spine, and a respiratory condition for further medical evaluation due to incomplete or insufficient opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, to include cervicogenic headaches, as secondary to his other service-connected conditions needs further examination and evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for Traumatic Brain Injury and Chronic Headaches due to insufficient evidence and a failure to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, asthma, and a sleep disorder. The claims of service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions listed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, finding that they did not begin during service or until many years thereafter and are not related to service in any way. The Board also found that the condition is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.