Migraines & headaches decisions — 2020

The Veteran's combined disability rating was 90 percent prior to September 14, 2010. The Board found that the Veteran had already met the criteria for a TDIU since September 14, 2010 when his Combined Rating reached 100 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for memory loss, headaches, and hypertension due to incomplete examinations and failure to consider in-service complaints.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, were not of sufficient severity to render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. Therefore, TDIU was denied.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, effective December 27, 2019. The appeal regarding headaches is remanded as the RO failed to issue a supplemental statement of the case covering the period prior to December 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, right leg radiculopathy, joint pain, and muscle pain.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected due to noise exposure during service.,Service connection for cerebral atrophy is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that it began in service or is related to an injury, disease, or event in service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including an examination to determine the severity of her service-connected low back disability and whether there are neurological manifestations. The TDIU issue will also be addressed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his ankle disabilities, service connection for neck and back disabilities, and right wrist disability have been dismissed. The claim of service connection for residuals of head injuries (including TBI and lacunar infarct) and headaches has been reopened.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran’s assertions of in-service injury or exposure, leading to current disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment during certain periods, warranting a TDIU. However, the Veteran was able to secure and maintain such employment at other times.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches, back injury, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depressive disorder) due to outstanding treatment records and the need for VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions and failure to obtain all relevant treatment records, including those from Duke University Hospital. The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is being reviewed again.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to incomplete service treatment records and insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's claims of migraines, low back disability, and dental condition. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss is not reopened and denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for migraine headaches is not reopened and denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for OSA is denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral ankle condition is denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for myoclonic jerking is denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for gastrointestinal disorder is not reopened and denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a left eye disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a headache disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including headaches, cervical and lumbar myositis, were remanded due to the need for further development. The Board did not assign a specific rating or effective date as the appeal was remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and disability ratings for various conditions, including migraines, neck disability, back disability, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes, varicose veins of the left lower extremity, left shoulder disability, and anxiety. The Veteran's SSA records have not been associated with the claims file.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea, chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, hypertension, and migraine headaches due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran must be provided with new examinations that address his contentions regarding aggravation of sleep apnea by a service-connected stressor disorder, the etiology of his sinus and allergy conditions, the onset and relationship to service of his hypertension, and the relationship between his headache disorders and any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found no new and material evidence to reopen them. The effective dates for grants of service connection or increased ratings were also denied.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD is currently rated as noncompensably disabling prior to September 20, 2019, and 10 percent thereafter. The Board found no basis for a higher rating.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied due to lack of current evidence.