Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus was granted. The rating for cluster headaches prior to February 17, 2017, is granted at a 30 percent disability rating. However, the rating for cluster headaches since February 17, 2017, remains at a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder and neurocognitive disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment. He was granted a 70% disability rating for this condition prior to January 8, 2020.,Service connection for chronic headaches was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or link to service.

Service connection granted for a bilateral foot disability, sleep apnea, and respiratory disability. The Veteran's claims for migraine headaches and testicular cancer are also reopened.,The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s conditions began during active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for back disorder and remanded all other issues related to her hip conditions, stomach condition, tension headaches, and unspecified urinary tract condition. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of November 1, 2007. The Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, but not higher. The Board found the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.,For rhinitis with sinusitis, the Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent since April 21, 2015. The Board found that he has more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year and granted him a 30 percent rating effective from April 21, 2015.,The Veteran's chronic anxiety and depression is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the RO granted TDIU effective November 16, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and opinions to address the claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, head injuries, left eye welding burns, sleep disorders, low back disabilities, knee and ankle issues. The appeals are related to in-service exposure or other direct causes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and conducting VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims.

The Veteran's left ankle arthritis and PTSD have been granted service connection. The initial disability rating for PTSD has been increased to 70 percent, effective from March 21, 2014. Bilateral hearing loss, headaches, acid reflux, residual scar, right knee disability, left knee disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, sciatica (left lower extremity), and sciatica (right lower extremity) have been dismissed.

The Veteran's headaches are granted a 30% rating, and his right shoulder (post-open reduction internal fixation) and left shoulder chronic impingement syndrome each receive a 20% rating. The initial rating for right patellofemoral pain syndrome remains at 10%.

The application to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for Headaches and Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral upper extremity, left lower extremity, lumbar spine, cervical spine, and headache disabilities due to deficiencies in prior VA examinations and missing records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and migraine headaches were granted with effective dates of April 30, 2018. Service connection was also granted for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD.,An initial compensable disability rating (50%) for migraine headaches on an extraschedular basis is being remanded.

For the rating period prior to March 17, 2011, the Veteran's service-connected tension headaches were rated at 50 percent disabling.,For the rating period as of March 17, 2011, the Veteran is already in receipt of a maximum disability rating for his service-connected tension headaches (50%).,The Board has referred the issue of entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis to the Director, Compensation Service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations. The appeals are currently pending.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 50 percent rating as of February 12, 2012. The issue of increasing the rating for shortness of breath with pleural effusion is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a right jaw disability, degenerative changes of the cervical spine, and migraines as secondary to residuals of left temporomandibular injury.,Service connection is also granted for a neck disability.