Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's headaches began during his military service.

The Veteran was granted an initial 30 percent evaluation for posttraumatic headaches, effective from February 7, 2017. Prior to this date, the Veteran had a 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's headache disorder, psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder due to another medical condition and unspecified anxiety), obstructive sleep apnea, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and skin disorder are all granted. However, the Veteran's service connection claims for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, a right ankle disorder, and a skin disorder remain denied.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a right hand injury, residuals of a head injury (including headaches), cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity neurological disability, and stomach disability. The claims for residuals of a right thumb injury, sleep disability, and bilateral lower extremity neurological disabilities are remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions as there is no evidence of chronic or continuous symptoms since service that can be attributed to his active duty.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions due to an inextricably intertwined issue regarding the character of the appellant's service from April 18, 2011 to July 21, 2015. The other issues are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches was denied, and his claims for increased ratings for low back disability were also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a chronic headache disorder in service or within one year after separation from service, and that there is no evidence of a link between his current headaches and service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses due to lack of emergency treatment and non-feasibility of VA facilities, despite his assertions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), to include headaches, must be remanded due to inadequate examination and new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's headache disability, specifically whether it is related to service or secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's TDIU from April 1, 2014 to May 1, 2020 is considered for SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected headache disability and other disabilities independently rated at least 60% combined.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting further examinations to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and migraine headaches are related to his service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate compliance with previous directives and an insufficient VA examination. The Veteran's widow is seeking service connection for a headache condition, but the current evidence does not clearly establish whether he had such a condition prior to his entry into active duty or if it was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service connection for headaches is granted, while his claim for ganglion cyst of the right wrist remains denied. The other issues related to increased ratings are also denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches and upper airway resistance syndrome are rated at 50% each, effective from the date of the VA examination. The Board also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

A rating of 40 percent, but not higher, for lumbar paravertebral myositis is granted.,A rating of 50 percent for migraines is granted.,A rating of 30 percent, but not higher, for right shoulder bursitis is granted.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for left leg radiculopathy is denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for right leg radiculopathy is denied.,Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes during his lifetime, and thus denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also found insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran had a headache disability related to service, and therefore remanded this issue.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was received to warrant the readjudication of claims for service connection for a blood disability, back disability, and headaches. The claims are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's left shoulder disorder and migraines are remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claims for a left shoulder disorder secondary to right shoulder disorders, and migraines secondary to PTSD are also remanded.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder with a rating of 70 percent effective March 13, 2013 and service connection for headaches with a rating of 30 percent effective August 19, 2014. The Veteran's attorney is now eligible for additional fees based on the January 2019 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and requests that another VA clinician provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current headache disability had its onset in or is otherwise attributable to his period of active service.