Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the veteran's claims, including evaluations for various conditions and service connection requests.

The Board has granted an increased initial rating of 30 percent for occipital headaches. The issue of service connection for a sleep disorder secondary to occipital headaches is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, upper respiratory disorder (sinusitis), and headache disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide a supplemental opinion regarding the upper respiratory disorder.

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development and to obtain adequate medical opinions addressing the appellant's assertions of direct and secondary causation.

The Veteran's shin splints and knee issues are restored to a 20% rating, while her right shoulder and left shoulder service connection claims are denied. Her major depressive disorder is granted with TDIU status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability, low back disability, right upper extremity numbness, left upper extremity numbness, and headaches due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is advised to provide medical records from his service period and a lay statement supporting his claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ADHD has been reopened and is granted.,Service connection for ADHD is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it is related to military service.

The Veteran's GERD and migraine headaches are rated at a 30% since December 9, 2019. The GERD is characterized by persistent symptoms including dysphagia, pyrosis, regurgitation, and substernal arm or shoulder pain. The migraine headaches have been characterized as monthly prostrating attacks.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss, head injury (including TBI), gastric ulcers, and headaches for further development due to delays in scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines, finding that his current diagnosis of migraines began during active duty and persisted since separation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the service-connected right zygomatic fracture aggravated the non-service-connected depression.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The claims for headaches, tonsillitis, strep throat, periodontal disease (pyorrhea), and sleep apnea are being remanded.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service or any other relevant factor.

The Board has remanded the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to concerns about the adequacy of the August 2015 opinion, which did not address all relevant contentions raised by the Veteran and his wife during the appeal period.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, is granted as secondary to his service-connected eye disability and tinnitus.,The Veteran's respiratory disability, including sleep apnea, is granted as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at a 50% disability rating, the highest available under Diagnostic Code 8199-8100 for migraine headaches. The decision is based on very frequent prostrating and prolonged attacks of headache pain that occur more than once a month, which is considered severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient evidence and need for clarification of the severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

Service connection for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to prostate cancer, PTSD with sleep disorder, night sweats, flashbacks, and depression (PTSD), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to PTSD, and hypertension as secondary to PTSD is granted.,Service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, skin disorder, severe headaches, ear and throat disorder, prostate cancer, and PTSD is reopened.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a neck disorder, headaches, and sleep apnea due to inadequate VA examination opinions and incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for migraines and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a low back disability due to insufficient development and consideration of new evidence.