Migraines & headaches decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disorders, ACA aneurysm status post craniotomy, cognitive deficits and dementia, and headache disorder as there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year following discharge. The Veteran's symptoms were attributed to his post-service ACA aneurysm.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine disability and headaches due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran's claims are not yet resolved.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic headaches as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

Service connection for headaches is granted. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for further rating actions.

An effective date of March 18, 2016 is granted for a 50% evaluation for migraine headaches.,An effective date of December 12, 2016 is granted for a 70% evaluation for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The issues of service connection for eczema rash, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), epididymitis, lactose intolerance, residuals of vasectomy, and Gulf War syndrome have been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected vascular headaches and sinusitis are granted a rating of 30 percent, but not higher, from February 27, 2012. The claim for increased rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease is remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, back, left hip, right knee, carpal tunnel syndrome of the bilateral upper extremities, and headache conditions due to inadequate examinations and failure to address certain aspects of his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a head injury, to include seizures with headaches, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service head injury. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for her headache condition, finding that there was no indication from the evidence that her headaches contributed to severe economic inadaptability.

An effective date of April 19, 2017 for the assignment of a 50 percent disability rating for migraines with tension headaches is granted.,An effective date prior to February 12, 2019 for the assignment of a 70 percent disability rating for persistent depressive disorder with sleep disruption is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was denied because the new evidence submitted did not demonstrate a chronic headache disorder incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at a maximum of 50 percent from January 17, 2017 and his TDIU is granted effective the same date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines and epilepsy, finding that new and relevant evidence had not been received to reopen the claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of tendonitis. The Veteran's claims for gastroenteritis, TBI, acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, and headache disability are all remanded due to insufficient evidence or further clarification is needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for scars and residuals following a rhytidectomy was denied, as the evidence did not show that VA care caused his additional disability. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss prior to May 8, 2021 was rated at 20 percent, while after this date it was rated at 40 percent.

The appeal for service connection of headaches was granted due to new evidence. Service connection for chronic kidney disease and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and sleep apnea. The Veteran is seeking service connection for headaches, which may be related to his service-connected PTSD or sleep apnea.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date for TDIU from July 31, 2012. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment as of this date.