Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective August 20, 2019. The TDIU is granted on a schedular basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for sinus condition, sleep disorder, and headaches due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's symptoms are related to his service in Afghanistan, including exposure to burn pits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee disability, low back disability, left foot disability, bronchitis, sinusitis, and headache. The case is returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue symptoms are attributed to his service-connected psychiatric disorder, and the Board finds no evidence of a chronic undiagnosed illness.,The Veteran's vertigo is found to be etiologically related to his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board dismissed the claim of entitlement to death pension benefits as the appellant withdrew his appeal.,The Veteran's cause of death is remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and need for a medical opinion regarding the relationship between her in-service head injury and her death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lower back disability, bilateral hip disability, hepatitis C, and migraines due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his headaches associated with residuals, right infraorbital fracture was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of very frequent and completely prostrating attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability as required for a higher rating. Additionally, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus denying his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU rating is granted, and the appeals for earlier effective date for an increased rating for bilateral cataracts and residuals of a right eye detached retina are dismissed. The appeal for an increased rating for service-connected an eye condition (to include bilateral cataracts with detached retina, right eye) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches and gastrointestinal disorders due to insufficient opinions in the July 2020 VA examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current conditions, including tension headaches, migraines, gastritis with rectal prolapse, diarrhea, constipation, and functional bowel disease.

The Veteran is granted an initial 20 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, effective from September 14, 2016.,The Veteran is granted an initial 30 percent rating for a headache condition, effective from October 26, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability caused by treatment received at a VA facility in November 2014 was denied due to the lack of evidence showing that the carelessness, negligence, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA proximately caused his disabilities. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied as he does not have any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TBI with post-concussive headaches was rated at 10 percent from April 14, 2014 to December 20, 2016. From December 21, 2016, the Veteran received a rating of 70 percent for his TBI with unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's headaches, neck condition, left shoulder injury, and right shoulder injury are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's initial rating for migraine headaches prior to February 3, 2020 was denied.,From February 3, 2020, the Veteran received an increased rating of 10 percent for his migraine headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and right hand carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's PTSD and mood disorder were also not granted an initial rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are granted at a rating of 60 percent, effective from October 2008. The Board also found that her facial rash disorder is related to military service and granted service connection for it.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss from August 13, 2019 is denied. The case is remanded to obtain clarification on the February 2018 audiometric evaluation and to provide an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's vertigo and headaches with his service-connected hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions and further development is needed before a decision can be made on the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including MDD, PTSD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment throughout the entire appeal period prior to December 19, 2013. As a result, he is granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide VA examinations.