Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and authorization from private medical providers. The Veteran's appeal is for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for recurrent headaches, which are currently rated as migraine headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for insomnia. Service connection is remanded for GERD and headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further development is needed, including obtaining private treatment records from Joe Cardello and Dr. Philip Floyd.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are caused and aggravated by her service-connected PTSD, fibromyalgia, and anemia.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis related to the Veteran’s reduced sex drive. The claim for this condition is denied.,The Veteran's painful scar on the right wrist warrants a 10 percent disability rating due to its pain but not instability or limitation of function.,The linear scar on the right wrist does not meet the criteria for an increased disability rating as it does not exceed 6 square inches in area and is not unstable or painful.,Anemia has been rated at 10 percent since November 2018, with no evidence of improvement to warrant a higher rating.,Fibromyalgia was previously rated at 20 percent but the Veteran's symptoms do not meet criteria for an increased disability rating as they are present more than one-third of the time and not constant or refractory to therapy.,Lumbar strain has been rated at 20 percent since January 10, 2020. The claim is remanded due to a lack of evidence showing improvement in function.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy was previously rated at 20 percent but the Veteran's symptoms do not meet criteria for an increased disability rating as they are present more than one-third of the time and not constant or refractory to therapy.,Costochondritis has been rated at 30 percent since January 10, 2020. The claim is remanded due to a lack of evidence showing improvement in function.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent on an extraschedular basis for his service-connected tension headaches, finding that the available schedular rating criteria adequately contemplated his symptoms and functional impairment.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including evaluations for various conditions and service connection claims. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction claim is denied as there is no evidence of a penile deformity. Other claims are also remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted secondary service connection for migraine headaches. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and memory loss, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome/insomnia disorder, were both remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of migraine headaches has been dismissed due to his death. The other issues, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, have already been resolved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to June 27, 2017. From June 27, 2017, the appeal is dismissed as moot because she has a combined schedular rating of 100% for her service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headaches, which are considered secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

Service connection granted for a headache condition due to service-connected major depressive disorder and tinnitus. Service connection also granted for a sleep disorder (OSA) related to major depressive disorder and GERD.

The Board has granted an initial compensable rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, finding that his symptoms meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as migraines secondary to residuals of fractured sternum, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,An effective date of May 25, 2010, is granted for the award of service connection for residuals of fractured sternum.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability is denied as there is no current diagnosis of pterygium and the condition did not result from in-service exposure.,The Board has also determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and headache disability are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected pension was denied prior to November 4, 2017 due to his disabilities not meeting the percentage standards for a finding of permanent and total disability. However, from November 4, 2017, he met the criteria for receiving pension as he is over age 65 with no other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for GERD, a headache disorder, sinusitis, a right knee disability, and a right ankle disability have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. Service connection is granted for GERD.,Service connection is also granted for a headache disorder. The Board found that there was equipoise in the evidence regarding whether the Veteran had a headache disorder during service and still has one today.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have aggravated his migraine headaches and insomnia, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has not fully considered the Veteran's claims due to incomplete record development and requires additional examinations or opinions for a full decision.