Migraines & headaches decisions — 2021

The Veteran's GERD and tension headaches are not service-connected as they did not manifest within one year of discharge.,Fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome were also not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus to service.

The Veteran's Major Depressive Disorder is granted service connection. Service connection for migraine headaches and sleep apnea are denied as they are not secondary to his MDD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, as he has a history of working for over 30 years in various capacities.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, a heart disability, sleep apnea, and headaches. The Veteran's tension headaches are now granted.

A rating of more than 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,An earlier effective date of January 4, 2017, for the increased rating to 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for chronic PTSD with anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and for major depressive disorder is granted.,Service connection for recurrent major depressive disorder is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for chronic headaches is granted.,Service connection for migraine headaches is granted.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for a low back condition is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for sinusitis is denied.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for a chronic enlarged prostate is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for chronic erectile dysfunction is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for chronic kidney disease is denied.

The Veteran's endometriosis is rated at a maximum of 50 percent, effective March 12, 2012. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's statements regarding an in-service head injury and the need for further investigation into whether such an event occurred. The Veteran is also required to be examined if evidence corroborating the in-service event is obtained.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability, a menstruation disability, a headache disability, and obesity due to incomplete VA examinations and lack of Gulf War examination records.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back condition, finding that the Veteran's current disability is at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service.,The issues of entitlement to service connection for headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), an acquired psychiatric disorder, and prostate cancer are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right ankle disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are granted service connection. The remaining claims for respiratory problems, gastrointestinal problems, joint pain, headaches, muscle pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other cardiovascular symptoms are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions alone did not render him in need of regular aid and assistance.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected tension headaches (claimed as headaches) was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show characteristic prostrating attacks of migraine/non-migraine headache pain during the appeal period.,The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate audiological examinations.

The Veteran's tension headaches and GERD have been granted a 30 percent rating effective October 1, 2011. The Board found the evidence at least in equipoise as to the severity of her conditions.

The Veteran's entitlement to a 30 percent rating for her migraine headache condition is granted from July 31, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran experienced characteristic prostrating attacks of headache pain at least once per month and meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's tension headaches were granted service connection effective September 30, 1980.,An earlier effective date for the grant of unspecified anxiety disorder is denied.

Service connection for a right ankle disability is granted.,The issues of entitlement to service connection for headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for facial rash is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a facial rash.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension is denied due to the lack of evidence showing diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more.

The Board denied service connection for migraine and cluster headaches, as well as an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's TDIU claims were also denied due to insufficient evidence showing he was unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims related to his right ankle, hip, cervical spine, migraine, and knee disabilities. The VA examinations are deemed inadequate due to lack of proper range of motion testing and failure to address flare-ups.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for a back injury, bipolar disorder, headaches, and hypertension. Therefore, these claims remain denied.