Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a headache disorder as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence, including medical records, and undergo an examination to determine if he has any new disabilities related to his hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to headaches, OSA, insomnia, and tinnitus have been reopened. The VA has granted these claims.,A rating of 20 percent for lumbar spine spondylosis (lumbar spine disability) is restored.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability and a headache disorder as aggravated by service-connected tinnitus due to inadequate reasoning in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for headaches and sleep apnea due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's current headache disability is not related to his service-connected disabilities, while the claim for sleep apnea requires further examination as the November 2019 VA examiner did not address earlier findings that reflect sleep apnea or another sleep disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and total disability rating based on individual unemployability based on service-connected disabilities (TDIU). Specifically, the AOJ must obtain the August 2017 audiogram results referenced in the Veteran’s statements and clarify if a performance intensity function test was performed during the May 2018 private audiological evaluation.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including headaches, kidney disability, anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, left thumb disability, broken ribs residuals, lipoma scar, and bilateral pes cavus. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable rating for headaches, his claim of service connection for a kidney disability remains pending, he must provide new evidence to reopen his previously denied claim, he needs to establish service connection for anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, left thumb disability, broken ribs residuals, lipoma scar, and bilateral pes cavus. The Board will review the claims again after obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD and TBI, as well as a compensable initial rating for migraine headaches, was denied. The case is remanded for further action on the issue of TDIU.

The Veteran's trigeminal neuralgia associated with left periorbital headache is rated at 10 percent from September 2, 2010 to October 7, 2019 and at 30 percent from October 8, 2019 onwards. The appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings for OSA, hypertension, and headaches have been withdrawn. The claims of higher disability ratings for bilateral knee instability, left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, right knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease are being remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and headaches disabilities. The claims for right knee and low back disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and migraine headaches have been denied. The VA has determined that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at a maximum of 30 percent prior to March 4, 2019.,The Veteran's CAD is currently rated at 60 percent and the Board has found that this rating is not higher than what is warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) need to be verified, and additional opinions are needed regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and headaches due to inadequate development and examination. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran’s service-connected right foot exostosis aggravated his lumbar spine disorder, and if the Veteran had any headache disorders during or related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are not rated at a level that warrants a TDIU, and there is no plausible evidence of unemployability due to these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's migraines, right wrist strain, and MDD have been granted initial ratings. GERD has also been granted an initial rating, but the effective date is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his period of service, and therefore, service connection for tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left upper extremity neuropathy. Service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy is not warranted.,For the period prior to May 29, 2018, the Veteran's left elbow disability manifested in arthritis with normal range of motion and no pain on examination. A noncompensable rating is appropriate from that time. From May 29, 2018, a 10 percent rating is appropriate for limitation of flexion.,For the period prior to May 29, 2018, the Veteran's left elbow disability manifested in arthritis with normal range of motion and no pain on examination. A noncompensable rating is appropriate from that time. From May 29, 2018, a noncompensable rating is appropriate for limitation of extension.,Service connection for arthritis (claimed as gout) is remanded.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded.,Service connection for residuals of TBI is remanded.,Service connection for headache is remanded.,Service connection for a vision disability is remanded.,Service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.,Service connection for a right knee disability is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral great toe disability, bilateral knee disability, scars, lumbar spine disability, and heart condition have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened and granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to lack of VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of her bilateral eye disorder, migraine headaches, right shoulder disability, and eczematoid dermatitis. The Veteran is required to provide updated treatment records and undergo VA examinations.