Migraines & headaches decisions — 2021

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims and rating appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development. The claims include right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, a disability manifested by memory loss and fatigue, headaches with light sensitivity, and alopecia.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's right shoulder fracture is currently rated at 20% and his depressive disorder has been granted. The issue of service connection for migraine headaches remains pending.,Further medical evaluation and opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's migraines are secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's cervicogenic headaches, claimed as headaches, are being remanded for further examination and medical opinion due to the lack of a clear etiology. The examiner is asked to determine if these headaches are related to his service-connected TMJ disorder.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 30% from December 31, 2017 to June 10, 2020 and at 50% since June 10, 2020.

The Board has denied service connection for GERD, TBI, headaches, bilateral knee disability, back disability, left shoulder disability, and heart disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, a headache disorder, and a bilateral leg condition due to additional development being needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraines are related to service, specifically as they were aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus. As a result, the claim for service connection for migraines is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension, migraine headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as service connected due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam. The claims for secondary service connection for these conditions based on the Veteran's service-connected nightmare disorder with sleep condition are also granted.

The Veteran's neurobehavioral effects, including carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, dizziness, vertigo, autonomic neuropathy, anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, may be related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during service. The Board finds a need for further examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 10% prior to July 24, 2017 and 30% since that date.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30% since July 31, 2017.,The Veteran's hypertension is not rated as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and headaches, finding that both conditions are proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorders (PTSD and DMII).

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and remanded the claims of service connection for thoracic spine disability and left knee disability due to secondary service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to inadequate medical opinions, and further development is required.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed as moot due to improper forms and untimely filings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar spine disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining private medical records and providing a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's back disability at the time of the January 2019 VA examination.

The Veteran's headaches, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral spine disability are found to be related to service. The depression is not considered secondary to a service-connected condition.