Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for blurred vision and severe headaches on the left side, finding that there is no evidence to support a correlation between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for muscle tension type headaches and severe multilevel cervical spine degenerative joint and disc disease have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as service connected, with the condition being related to in-service events and a service-connected disability.,Fatigue is denied as not service connected. The Board found that fatigue did not manifest during service and was not causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury or disease.,The Veteran's body wide chronic pain and gastrointestinal disability are remanded for further development due to the lack of a clear opinion on their relationship to service.,Gastrointestinal disability is also remanded for further development due to the lack of a clear opinion on its relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is granted, effective October 22, 2013. The decision is based on his service-connected psychiatric disability and other disabilities reaching a combined total of 60 percent or greater.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to perform activities of daily living without assistance, including bathing and dressing. The Board finds that he is in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal for higher staged initial ratings for migraine/atypical headaches has been denied. The TDIU claim is being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, an increased rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and an increased rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has found the record incomplete and remanded for obtaining missing VA medical records, including from Hamilton, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Horsham, Pennsylvania; and Bucks County, Pennsylvania VA facilities. The CUE claims are also inextricably intertwined with the earlier effective date claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for pes planus, right-foot disorder, left-foot disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and migraine headaches have all been denied. The Board found that the pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by active service.

The Board has granted readjudication of the previously denied claim for service connection for headaches and electric shocks in the head, finding new and relevant evidence that was not considered before.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, migraines, and various joint conditions are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether these conditions qualify as medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses (MUCMI).

The Veteran's claims for peptic ulcers and right foot injury have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The left hip condition, headaches, sleep apnea, and hypertension are all denied as there is no established service connection.,Issues related to peptic ulcers, right foot injury, left hip condition, headaches, and sleep apnea remain pending and will be remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and considering the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further consideration due to insufficient recent medical evidence and the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective May 1, 2013 due to his last day of employment being April 30, 2013. His service-connected heart condition and headaches prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and requests for additional information.

The Veteran's headaches are service-connected due to an undiagnosed illness during his Southwest Asia service. However, the Veteran's pulmonary disability (asthma), sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II are not service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and opinion regarding whether any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death, specifically focusing on diabetes, heart disorders related to presumed herbicide exposure, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.