Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Veteran's tension headaches are found to be at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.,Service connection for COPD is granted.

The Veteran's headaches, bilateral hearing loss, dizziness, and paresthesias of the upper and lower extremities are all granted as service-connected due to exposure to mefloquine during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for alcohol use disorder, chronic sinusitis, and chronic headaches have been denied. The Board has remanded the claim for gastrointestinal disorders (including chronic gastritis and diverticulosis).,Service connection is not granted for alcohol use disorder as it cannot be established on a direct basis due to preclusion by law. Service connection is also not granted for chronic sinusitis or chronic headaches, as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's migraine headaches, finding that his current diagnosis is related to symptoms he experienced during active duty and continuing thereafter.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as incurred in service, and his migraine headaches are rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines. The effective date for TDIU remains September 20, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA and remanded the issue of service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine disability, TBI residuals, and migraine headaches were denied as the Veteran did not attend scheduled examinations.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with its prior remand directives and the claims for headaches, sleep disturbance disability, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and fibromyalgia are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a depressive disorder and migraine headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sinus headache and drainage, as well as his request for an increased rating for PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's lower back disability and associated radiculopathy have been granted increased initial ratings of 20 percent, effective January 22, 2018. Additional development is needed for other issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for her migraine headaches, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to warrant a compensable rating prior to April 21, 2017 or a higher than 30 percent rating since April 21, 2017. The case is remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU. The cases for increased disability ratings for right elbow, left elbow, left knee, and right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for the Veteran's listed conditions, including those related to herbicide exposure, due to his death.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for headaches is denied, and the lower back disability rating claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's headaches and fatigue are found to have had their onset during service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions. The issues of service connection for muscle and joint pain and for fatigue due to environmental exposures or as secondary to PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. However, his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.,The Board has found that there was no substantial compliance with prior remand directives regarding joint conditions and vertigo.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a nose injury, including headaches, nausea, and dizziness. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent and credible lay testimony regarding his in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA Form 21-4142 and a need for an addendum opinion regarding bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied service connection for insomnia, maxilla injury, and headaches. Service connection was granted for restricted lung disease with a specific rating.,Increased ratings were not granted for the Veteran's headaches.