Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a disability manifested by orthostasis, claimed as dizziness, due to failure of the Veteran to report for a scheduled VA examination. The Veteran is advised that it is his responsibility to cooperate with the examiner's efforts and attend any requested examinations.

The Veteran's headaches are rated as 30 percent disabling prior to April 13, 2015, and 50 percent disabling since that date. The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine appropriate disability ratings and service connection for migraines, left hip strain with osteoarthritis and limitation of flexion, left hip strain with osteoarthritis and limitation of abduction, adduction, and rotation (prior to September 1, 2016), and generalized arthritis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, with a grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss denied.,Prior to January 8, 2020, the Veteran's cervicogenic tension-type headaches are not rated higher than 30 percent. Effective from January 8, 2020, his disability rating is increased to 50 percent.,TDIU was granted prior to November 2, 2015.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various disabilities as they are all related to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hammertoes, was denied. The Veteran also had claims for increased ratings for headaches and chronic bronchitis with asthma which were partially granted.

The Board has granted service connection for Erectile Dysfunction (ED) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tension headaches, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for traumatic brain injury and headaches due to the need for a Supplemental Statement of the Case considering new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches and various gynecological conditions, including menstrual problems, have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability during service or a nexus to service.,The Veteran reported experiencing headaches during active duty but the only documented treatment was for an upper respiratory infection in 1983. Post-service records show her headaches began after a car accident in 1992, and there is no credible medical evidence linking these headaches to service.

The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied. The claims for service connection of migraine headaches and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and migraines, as well as his TDIU claim due to a lack of proper notification regarding scheduled VA examinations. The Veteran is required to report for these examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches from August 30, 2013 was granted. The Veteran now receives a 50% disability rating for her migraines.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are characterized by very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The Board has granted an initial 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's migraines prior to April 15, 2020.

Service connection for tension headaches is granted as they are secondary to service-connected psychiatric and right shoulder disabilities.,High cholesterol is not considered a disability for VA purposes, so the claim for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sinusitis, lumbar spine disability, headaches, right ear hearing loss disability, and left ear hearing loss disability due to inadequate opinions in his VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD), and a headache disorder. The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, bilateral foot disability, and left ankle disability are remanded.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran’s claimed conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's initial 30 percent rating for service-connected migraine headaches is granted, with the condition being less severe but more frequent and causing prostrating attacks.

A 30 percent rating for migraines prior to December 3, 2019 is granted. A 50 percent rating for migraines since December 3, 2019 is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not begin during active service or are otherwise related to in-service noise exposure.,PTSD is not service-connected as there is no credible evidence of a verified stressor event. The Veteran's reported incidents could not be corroborated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been granted, and the initial ratings for diabetes mellitus have been addressed. The issue of TDIU prior to August 18, 2018 is being remanded due to its inextricability with the grant of service connection for headaches.