Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and a TDIU was granted from July 29, 2009 until April 2016. The rating for PTSD remains unchanged since the effective date of the increased rating decision.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been granted a 50% rating on an extraschedular basis, and the claim for TDIU due to these headaches has also been granted. The service connection claims are not before the Board.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with its remand instructions and thus the appeals are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% since April 20, 2012. The costochondritis is rated at 10% from April 20, 2012 through January 17, 2020 and denied for a higher rating. The hiatal hernia and GERD are not entitled to an initial compensable rating. The residuals of right 5th metacarpal fracture and left knee chondromalacia patella do not warrant a higher than 10% rating. The traumatic brain injury with cognitive impairment is rated at 70% since April 20, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a failure to complete requested VA examinations and provide adequate evidence. The Veteran is also being asked to clarify his psychiatric disability associated with residuals of a head injury, as well as the severity of his service-connected headache disorder.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for ear pain, bacterial vaginosis, headaches, and TMJ. The current evidence is insufficient to determine if these conditions are related to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, acne, and migraine/headache disorder are remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his employment is considered substantially gainful and he does not qualify under the specific provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for increased ratings of dizziness, headaches, major depressive disorder, and a fractured right lower rib. The claims are dismissed.

The Board has remanded these cases due to insufficient examination reports and lack of probative value for the opinions provided. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development, including obtaining addendum opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on various conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the claimant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, as they do not result in permanent impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ankylosis of a knee or hip, or loss of use of a hand or foot such that no effective function remains other than what would be equally well served by an amputation stump at the site of election below the elbow or knee with the use of a suitable prosthetic appliance.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for headaches. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and headaches are not related to his service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected tension headaches associated with TBI was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, which would be required for assignment of a schedular rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of the service-connected cervical spine disability and whether headaches are related to or aggravated by this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran’s service-connected conditions, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, contributed to his fatal drug use, which caused his death. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's migraine headache disorder is not service-connected, but his sinusitis has been granted a separate rating.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for nasal fracture residuals remains denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 30% rating as of October 18, 2013. Prior to this date, he was rated at 10%. The increased ratings for PTSD and lumbar strain remain denied.

The Veteran's lumbar strain, left knee degenerative joint disease (left knee disability), PTSD, migraine headaches, cervical spine disability, left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, bilateral hearing loss, and TBI have been granted service connection.,An initial rating of 40 percent for traumatic brain injury (TBI) has also been granted.

The Board found compelling circumstances warranted the Veteran's prolonged unauthorized absence, thus finding that his character of discharge from service for the period from October 1965 to March 1973 does not constitute a statutory or regulatory bar to VA compensation benefits.