Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for abdominal pain, bladder discomfort, kidney pain, breathing problems, fatigue, headaches, and numbness of upper and lower extremities due to in-service exposure. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's migraines were granted an initial rating of 30 percent prior to March 5, 2013.,An initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraines since March 5, 2013 is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for TDIU, initial PTSD rating prior to December 23, 2019, neck disability service connection, and migraine headaches secondary to a neck disability.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims but denied others. The Veteran's hyperlipidemia claim is denied, while his fuzzy vision, headaches, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right arm pain, and left wrist disorder claims are granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for depression, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are denied. The claim for an increased rating for migraines is remanded.,The Veteran’s service-connected depression is currently rated at 50 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code (DC) 9411. Her claims for left and right knee disabilities are both rated at 10 percent under DCs 5260 and 5260, respectively. The claim for migraines effective August 16, 2016 is currently rated at 50 percent under DC 8100.,The Veteran's service-connected migraines are currently rated at 50 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code (DC) 8100 effective August 16, 2016. Her claims for increased ratings for depression and knee disabilities remain pending.

The Veteran's cluster headaches are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that her condition does not warrant a higher rating as her attacks do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and pseudofolliculitis barbae, as well as his claims of service connection for arthritis, sinusitis, a cervical spine disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) are denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, sinusitis, a cervical spine disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) are remanded.

The Veteran's son, J.T., is seeking recognition as the 'helpless child' based on his permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching age 18. The Board has ordered a remand due to insufficient evidence regarding J.T.'s ability to support himself before turning 18.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for constipation and headaches due to insufficient opinions from VA examiners regarding direct service connection, including consideration of environmental exposures in Southwest Asia.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for headaches due to insufficient medical opinion and need for additional development.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is granted as service connected, with the presumption of continuity of symptoms since service.,Service connection for bilateral athlete’s foot is granted based on a finding that it had its onset in service and is etiologically related to service. The Veteran was diagnosed with athlete’s foot during service and continued experiencing symptoms after separation.,The Veteran's tension headaches are granted as service connected, with the presumption of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, TBI, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's psoriasis is denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's pituitary tumor status post removal is not service-connected, but his headaches are related to service and warrant a 50% rating for PTSD as of August 3, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and a TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of a headache disorder. However, it denied all other claims as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches, right eye disability, and left foot disability, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation before September 14, 2015. The Board granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the issues of service connection for scalp condition, sleep apnea, urinary incontinence, hammer toe (right and left feet), right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neck disability, acquired psychiatric disability; rating for urinary incontinence, in excess of 10 percent prior to October 18, 2019 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter; earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for urinary incontinence; hammer toe (right and left feet); right shoulder disability; left shoulder disability; neck disability; acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's appeal has also been dismissed for issues regarding an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and earlier effective dates for those conditions.,The Veteran's migraine headache disability was granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress is rated at 70 percent effective October 22, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The Board will attempt to reschedule the examinations and provide further guidance.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for PTSD and a headache disorder, as well as the TDIU claim due to incomplete development.