Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been denied as new and material evidence was not received. His claim of headaches is granted, but the issue of increased ratings for left ear hearing loss and bilateral otitis media, as well as TDIU, are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected tension headaches, finding that his symptoms more nearly approximated prostrating attacks occurring on an average once per month over the last several months.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the following reasons: to obtain private treatment records from Durham Regional Hospital and any other sources related to emergency medical technician (EMT) services, and to provide a VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for fibromyalgia is granted, with a rating of 40 percent effective from the date of service connection. The claims of service connection for heart condition and headaches are denied.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for headaches was denied, and his service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a GI disorder were granted. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature of the Veteran's insomnia and TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches including migraines, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support a link between his in-service symptoms and current condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for migraine headaches because the new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for myofascial pain syndrome with cervical spinal stenosis and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a DRO hearing.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was dismissed. The appeals for gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), diarrhea, left knee disability, headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, vitiligo, and balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO) were remanded.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right ear condition with cholesteatoma. The issues of compensation for migraines, jaw disability, and right eye disability pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded due to allegations of fault on VA's part.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a chronic headache disorder has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and migraines due to insufficient evidence. The case will be returned to VA for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy as they were granted in a February 2020 rating decision.,The Board has also dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, deviated septum, and pharyngitis due to lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to his time in service.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, migraines, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder, a bilateral ankle disability, and a bilateral knee disability.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for TMJ, a heart disorder, and a headache disorder as they have already been adjudicated in a previous final decision.

The Board has remanded the claims of hypertension and migraine headaches due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's hypertension may be related to service, but the examiner must clarify if it clearly and unmistakably preexisted service or was aggravated by service. For migraine headaches, the examiner must address continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from June 17, 2008 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's headaches began during service and have continued to the present, with credible testimony supporting in-service onset. The Board granted service connection for headaches.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for a new VA opinion regarding the severity of TBI residuals and their impact on the Veteran's claimed conditions. The Veteran is seeking an increased disability rating for his service-connected TBI.