Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Veteran has been rendered unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities since June 10, 2015.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for breast squamous cell carcinoma, migraines, and hidradenitis suppurativa. The cancers were not linked to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune, nor was there a direct link to service. Migraines were not related to in-service symptoms or service-connected tinnitus. Hidradenitis suppurativa did not have a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's headaches and a need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is more likely than not related to his in-service headaches and granting him the benefit of the doubt.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions has been granted. The Board also remanded several issues related to the Veteran's disabilities, including cramps of the lower extremities, right shoulder disability, right wrist disability, memory loss due to a motor vehicle accident, cervical spine disability, joint pain, bronchitis, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including schizophrenia and depression).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches, tinnitus, and generalized anxiety disorder, are severe enough to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition, migraine headaches, and prostate cancer have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.,The Veteran's hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches are related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, headache disability, and blackout disability due to missing VA treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all available VA medical records from the Veteran's separation date through today and any private medical records that have not yet been associated with the file.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) to include memory loss, headache, and insomnia should be remanded due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, migraine disability, and bilateral ankle disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for vertigo has not been established.

The Veteran's mixed tension type and vascular headaches are rated at 10 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating as there is no evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once per month.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for posttraumatic migraine headaches was denied as the evidence did not show that he experienced prostrating attacks occurring on an average once per month over several months prior to November 4, 2014. From November 4, 2014 onwards, his headaches were rated at 30 percent due to infrequent and non-prostrating attacks.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, migraines, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's headache disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD, sinusitis with epistaxis, and residuals of a nasal injury. The compensable initial rating for the residuals of a nasal injury is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition is granted as secondary to service-connected conditions. The neck condition is denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease and no current symptoms.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding severance of service connection for mechanical back pain syndrome and radiculopathy, right lower extremity. The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations. The underlying claim for a back disability is also being remanded.