Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's headaches, sleep apnea, and hip condition. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, with all reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.,Service connection for GERD and Hiatal Hernia is denied due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of a subdural hematoma and TDIU prior to November 7, 2016 due to incomplete VA treatment records and inadequate VA examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current diagnosis of subdural hematoma, which he alleges was caused by an in-service head injury during Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including headache disorder, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder, abdominal aortic aneurysm, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The decision also found that pre-existing allergies were not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.,Specifically, the Veteran needs to be examined for his claimed psychiatric disabilities, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, glaucoma, headaches, erectile dysfunction, hearing loss, and any other conditions that may have arisen as a result of service.

The Veteran's hypertension, diabetes mellitus, PTSD and MDD, erectile dysfunction, right knee disability, and residuals of a head injury (headaches, epilepsy, seizures) have been granted service connection.,However, the Veteran’s claim for service connection for a right knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking his current condition to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be a symptom of his service-connected PTSD, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of TDIU based on other service-connected disabilities is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran already receiving a 100% disability rating for PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen claims for service connection of right hip, left hip, headaches, and psychiatric conditions. However, the claim for a mental disorder is reopened. The effective date for an increased rating of 30 percent for TMJ disorder and bruxism is denied as it does not meet the criteria for earlier effective date.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection with an effective date of November 28, 2017. A separate rating for OSA is denied. Service connection for migraine headaches and tinnitus were granted, while vertigo remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, IBS, and migraines. The issues are related to new evidence submitted since his last decision.,The Veteran’s attorney indicated that he had not received a statement of the case on these claims.

The claim for service connection of various conditions, including low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, restless leg syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, hypothalamus disability, and others is granted. However, the rating for a thoracic spine disorder remains remanded, as does the claims for sleep disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's initial 30 percent rating for migraine headaches prior to March 24, 2016, and a 50 percent rating thereafter are granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all of his pending claims, including those related to plantar fasciitis, radiculopathy, headaches, and anxiety disorder. The Board dismissed these claims as a result.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple issues are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for TBI, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and headache disorder due to incomplete service records and inadequate examination opinions. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to August 14, 2019, as 30 percent thereafter until January 25, 2020 and as 50 percent thereafter. The Board has awarded a partial grant of an increased rating for the period of time prior to January 4, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for higher ratings or service connection in certain cases, but granted a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches, groin disorder, and skin disorders as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability, including refractive error and headaches, has been denied as there is no current disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for dizziness has been remanded due to inadequate examination findings.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder has been remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines has been reopened, and the Board has granted a 70% rating for PTSD. The Veteran is also granted entitlement to TDIU.