Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than post-traumatic stress disorder, including depression and anxiety; sleep apnea; and headaches. The diagnoses are based on the Veteran's reported symptoms and medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues being inextricably intertwined and insufficient evidence. The case must be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the prior remand directives have not been substantially complied with, thus the claims must again be remanded for compliance. The Veteran's representative requested an extension of 90 days to submit additional evidence and argument regarding his claims. However, no further argument has been submitted at this time.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 30 percent, but the Board denied an increased rating as his headaches do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease. Other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of clear evidence regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, GERD, colon disorders, headache disorder, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), eye disorders, low back and neck disorders, erectile dysfunction, right and left carpal tunnel syndromes. The decision also denied reopening of the claim for hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD has been denied. The claims for effective dates earlier than March 25, 2015, for the grant of service connection for these conditions have also been denied. The claim for COPD has been reopened due to new evidence submitted. Service connection for tension headaches is granted. Service connection for a back disability and high cholesterol are denied. Service connection for left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities as well as disabilities manifested by left and right hand numbness are not established. The Veteran's TDIU claim related to PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at the highest available level of 50%.,Heartburn prior to October 31, 2018 is rated at 10%. Constipation with heartburn from October 31, 2018 to present has not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability is found to be etiologically related to his obstructive sleep apnea, granting service connection for this condition. The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae and headache disabilities are also found to be etiologically related to active duty service, leading to the grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation of his service-connected PTSD with TBI, including addressing symptoms such as dizziness and lightheadedness.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for higher initial ratings for migraines and anal fissure. The remaining issues of remanding for further development have been identified.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to his death. Service connection claims were also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's undiagnosed illness (manifested by symptoms of fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, sleep disturbances, and feelings of warmth) is presumed to have been caused by his service in Southwest Asia. The Board finds that presumptive service connection is warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various disabilities, including headaches, a right knee disability, a back disability, a left shoulder disability, and a left hand and thumb disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records from various providers.

The Veteran's cluster headaches have been granted a 50% rating, effective from the date of the decision.,Special monthly compensation at the housebound rate has been granted for the period from July 26, 2016 to August 29, 2019.

Service connection is granted for a scar tissue mass/hematoma of the right upper posterior thigh.,Service connection is denied for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee and bilateral foot disability, as well as headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his employment history and medical evidence did not support a conclusion that he was unemployable.