Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, tremors, muscle pain, joint pain, and headaches. The case is being remanded to provide a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for service-connected migraine headaches is being remanded due to an increase in symptom severity and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for TBI, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed. The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea has been granted. His claims for breathing problems (now claimed as a lung disorder) and headaches are being remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the threshold for a disability rating. For migraine headaches, he is granted a 30% rating prior to August 30, 2018 and denied any higher rating thereafter. For bilateral plantar fasciitis, he is granted a 30% rating prior to June 2, 2017 and a 50% rating starting from that date.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for PTSD and TBI residuals were denied, but a 30 percent rating was granted for his service-connected headache condition as of October 11, 2018.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to be etiologically related to active duty service, specifically as a result of his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as his service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and reasoning in the prior decision regarding service connection for headaches on a secondary basis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for right elbow disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, Arnold Chiari Malformation, and headaches. These claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a sleep disorder and headaches, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for migraines, bilateral optic atrophy, and cerebral spinal fluid leak due to insufficient examination findings in prior decisions. The Veteran's headaches, eye conditions, and CSF leak need further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations did not comply with prior remand instructions and thus, the claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional opinions from appropriate clinicians.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to tinnitus due to a new VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for head injury residuals, including migraines with vision impairment, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Chronic Headache Disorder (claimed as Migraine headaches with vascular disease), and Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (claimed as PTSD with Depression) due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted for IBS and his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and GAD. The remaining claims have been remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headache disorder, which is aggravated by his service-connected fibromyalgia, is related to active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for neck disability due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for headache disability, neurological impairment of the upper extremities, and neurological impairment of the lower extremities are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the reopening of the neck disability claim.