Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, diagnosed as asthma, is granted service connection due to exposure to environmental hazards (burn pits). The issues of service connection for headaches, bilateral foot disability, obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and hypogonadism are remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for incontinence was denied. His migraines were granted a 50% rating, effective from the date of the decision. The reduction in left upper extremity radiculopathy rating and TDIU claims are all remanded.

The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for a chronic headache disability and calcaneal spur of the left ankle with sprain are both granted. The headaches are found to be proximately due to his service-connected tinnitus, while the left ankle condition is found to be proximately due to his right lateral collateral ligament sprain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, headaches, ischemic heart disease, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to a Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus was granted, while the claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and headaches were denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as it is unclear whether the condition was incurred in service or if it is secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be reviewed with additional medical evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on the issue of service connection for sleep apnea.

The appellant withdrew their appeals for all service connection issues except PTSD and TDIU, resulting in the dismissal of these appeals.

The Board has denied service connection for OSA, but remanded the issues of service connection for headaches and vascular neurocognitive disorder with depressive features, both secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete assessments of the Veteran's migraine headaches and low back disability, including their severity and functional impact.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues of right knee disorder, nasal fracture residuals, and headache disorder are being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent her from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective as of the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for migraine headaches is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for higher ratings for migraine headaches and major depressive disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder, leading to their dismissal.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The appeal was denied for a low back disability and bronchitis, while the claim for service connection for headaches was remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined rating of 58 percent, which is less than the required 70 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and higher initial ratings in a Statement of the Case, which led to dismissal of all pending issues.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to new evidence and outstanding records. The claims for right ankle, left ankle, right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, weakness and lack of coordination of legs, radiculopathy of lower extremity, PTSD with dissociative symptoms and derealization, allergic rhinitis, headache disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, respiratory disability, cervical spine disability, tremors of hands, and costochondritis are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD is also being remanded as there may be pertinent private treatment records that have not been obtained yet.,A TDIU rating will be considered, but the Veteran must complete a VA Form 21-8940 and provide any necessary authorization to obtain his private medical records.