Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to the submission of additional VA treatment records. The claims will be reviewed again once these records are obtained.

The Board denied service connection for migraines as the Veteran's preexisting condition did not show aggravation during his active duty service.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for residuals of TBI was denied prior to March 12, 2019. Effective March 12, 2019, a higher disability rating for residuals of TBI was granted. Prior to February 6, 2018, the Veteran received a 30 percent disability rating for migraines associated with residuals of TBI. Effective February 6, 2018, he received a 50 percent disability rating for migraines. The Veteran also received a total disability rating based on individual unemployability effective October 29, 2009.

The Board has denied service connection for a migraine condition and remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's migraines and IBS have been granted a disability rating of 10 percent each, effective as of the date of this decision.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for migraine headaches due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay statements and a fellow soldier's statement regarding her headache symptoms during service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with other claims.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, is granted.,Service connection for a headache disability, diagnosed as tension headaches, caused or aggravated by service-connected disabilities, is granted.

The Veteran's headache disability is rated at 30 percent from September 4, 2009. The Board denied a higher rating for the period before September 4, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected low back disability and migraine headaches have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn these claims.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be related to his service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.,Service connection for pituitary macroadenoma is denied as there is no evidence of a causal relationship with the Veteran's service. The claim for secondary service connection due to headaches is also denied.,The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for further examination, and it is unclear if it is related to his service or aggravated by his headaches.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) is remanded as the stressor events have not been verified.

The Veteran's post-concussive headaches are rated at a 30 percent evaluation, effective from the date of this decision.

The claim for restoration of a 20 percent rating for a lumbar spine disorder, from April 1, 2018 onwards, is granted. The claims for service connection for headaches, acid reflux with heartburn, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety disorder), and sleep apnea with insomnia are remanded.

The Board dismissed all the issues in this appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has remanded the claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to a worsening disability picture. The Veteran requires full-time assistance from her grandson, but she has not been evaluated by VA for this issue yet. The increased rating for migraine headaches is pending higher-level adjudication.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development of records and requests for additional information.

The Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia disability is found to be the primary cause of his headaches and anxiety disorder. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions, effective from January 3, 2017.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD, which causes near continuous panic attacks, sleep problems, impairment of short and long term memory, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment and abstract thinking, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, difficulty adapting to stressful situations, and impaired impulse control.

The Veteran's sinusitis with headaches and right deviated septum is granted a 30% disability rating, effective August 9, 2010. The effective date for service connection of the condition is set at August 9, 2010. SMC at the housebound rate is also granted as of this date.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for tension headaches prior to December 11, 2012 is denied. An initial rating of 30 percent and no higher for tension headaches since December 11, 2012 is granted.