Migraines & headaches decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for TBI, migraine headaches, cervical spine IVDS and DDD, thoracolumbar spine strain, and TMJ disorder. The Veteran's conditions are deemed to have been incurred in the line of duty during his military service.

The Veteran's headache disability, left knee disability (including PTSD as secondary), and PTSD are all granted. The Veteran is awarded a TDIU effective March 3, 2020, for his service-connected disabilities combined to exceed 60%. A separate rating of 100% for PTSD is granted beginning on March 3, 2020. Effective March 3, 2020, the Veteran also receives SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for her migraine headaches has been dismissed as she withdrew the appeal during the hearing.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 28, 2016 for service connection for COPD with sleep apnea was denied. The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at 100% since August 30, 2015. Service connection for migraines is granted as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hair loss have been dismissed. The appeal regarding a headache disability secondary to PTSD is being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to service-connected PTSD, but denied service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, hypertension (secondary to service-connected schizophrenia), heart disability, and residuals of a head injury due to incomplete examinations and lack of medical opinions. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations and obtain VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sight deterioration, an acquired psychiatric disorder, cluster headaches, a right foot disorder, and a right shoulder disorder due to insufficient evidence or lack of nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and migraine headaches, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions in the Veteran's records. The appeal was remanded to obtain VA examinations but the Veteran did not attend them.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's migraines pre-existed service or were aggravated by service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's syrinx of the thoracolumbar spine is granted service connection. The rating for headaches remains at 30 percent, and sinusitis remains at 10 percent. Service connection for left arm disability and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be secondary to his service-connected SLE.,There is no current diagnosis of weight change, and the claim for this condition is denied.,Fatigue is considered a symptom of the Veteran's service-connected mental health conditions and is not separately diagnosed as a disability.,Sleep disturbances are attributed to the Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress due to his medical conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to support his claims of a back disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, bilateral shoulder disabilities, OSA, and headaches. The claim for vitamin D deficiency is denied as it does not constitute a recognized disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hypertension. The issues remain on appeal as secondary service connection.

The Veteran's GERD and insomnia were denied as service connection was not established due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service connection for spinal stenosis, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and headaches (migraines) is remanded as the Board found the provided medical opinions inadequate.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current headaches are related to his documented head injury in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and residuals of traumatic brain injury were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted.

The Veteran's headaches had their onset during active service and are granted service connection. The issue of service connection for a traumatic brain injury is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and denied initial ratings for headache disorder, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and lumbar spinal degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's headaches are rated at 10% from May 1, 2015, but the claim is denied for higher ratings. The cervical and lumbar spine conditions do not meet criteria for initial rating higher than 10%. Service connection was not granted due to lack of a diagnosed heart disorder.