Migraines & headaches decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches are causally related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has found that the evidence is not sufficient to resolve the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, and remanded the case for further development.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the directives of its prior remand and thus requires another remand to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disorder.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for a vocational rehabilitation evaluation to assess her current limitations and suitability for employment due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be related to his active duty service, and he is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety. Other issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted service connection. The earlier effective date for TDIU from June 30, 2012 is granted. The rating in excess of 10 percent for recurrent abscesses with lichen simplex chronicus and residual scarring and tension headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and chronic fatigue syndrome are remanded due to inadequate opinions from the VA examiners. The AOJ must obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, headaches, a psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder), fatigue and feeling winded and/or out of breath, sinusitis, left eye disability, and right eye disability.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and head scar are contingent on obtaining missing records.

The Board dismissed the appeals because the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a heart disability is denied, and his claims for increased ratings are all denied. The Board finds no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service exposure to herbicides or other incidents that would warrant presumptive service connection.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability and a compensable rating for tension headaches, but granted a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) rating.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent since September 29, 2010. The rating for TBI is also granted at 50 percent effective from the same date.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and residuals of a left hip strain due to recent worsening evidence and inconsistencies in previous evaluations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left hand joint pain and right hand joint pain have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal during a hearing before the undersigned.,Service connection has been granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, headaches, and PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to lack of STRs and need for further examinations.

The Veteran's headaches are not rated higher than noncompensable, as there is no evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks.,The Veteran’s cervical spine disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent due to the lack of forward flexion of less than 15 degrees or favorable ankylosis.,The Veteran's major depressive disorder with somatic symptoms is rated at 50 percent, as it causes occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,Prior to July 7, 2014, the Veteran did not meet schedular requirements for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to headaches, lumbar spine disorder, TMJ, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right great toe metatarsophalangeal joint arthritis, left foot bursitis, and TBI. The appeal was dismissed.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, finding that they are productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's TBI and post-traumatic headaches have been remanded for additional development. The claims of entitlement to a separate compensable rating for post-traumatic headaches are also before the Board.