Migraines & headaches decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches and bilateral trigger fingers due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. A new VA opinion is needed to address whether these conditions are related to service, including exposure to chemicals as a mechanic.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and sinus headaches, finding that these conditions began during active service.

The Veteran's initial claim for erectile dysfunction was granted, but the rating assigned is noncompensable. The effective date of service connection and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ has been denied.,Service connection for headaches and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted as secondary to other conditions. Service connection for hypertension has not been established.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is manifested by loss of erectile power, but no penile deformity was noted. The effective date for service connection and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ cannot be earlier than September 9, 2020.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are rated at 10 percent, and the Board has granted a separate rating of 30 percent for migraine headaches. The case is remanded to determine if additional ratings are warranted for other symptoms and to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and severity of his TBI.

The Veteran's multiple service-connected disabilities, including TBI and PTSD, do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment due to his educational and occupational history.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure of jurisdiction in assigning a TDIU rating, and referred it for extraschedular consideration by the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable from June 7, 2012, to December 5, 2012. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence showed he was not unemployable by reason of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for fatigue and joint pain have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a neurological disability (manifested by tremors), headache disability, sleep disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim to service connection for a right foot disability, sleep apnea, heart disability (coronary artery disease), and headaches has been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's low back disorder, residuals of TBI, and headache disorder are granted service connection. However, the initial ratings for left femoral head avascular necrosis with proximal stress fracture left femoral shaft and right hip avascular necrosis remain remanded due to lack of updated VA medical records.

The Veteran's tension headaches, claimed as migraines, are found to be related to his service-connected back disability (lumbosacral discogenic disease). Service connection for these headaches is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and paired organ rule compensation due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right eye vision loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inconsistencies between the frequency of prostrating attacks reported by the Veteran and those found by the examiner, as well as discrepancies in the range of motion findings.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for residuals of traumatic brain injury and migraine headaches as he opted into the modernized review system, thereby withdrawing his legacy appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at a 30 percent level, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The issues include left ring finger condition, acquired psychiatric condition other than PTSD, headaches (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder), and OSA (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder).

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% effective October 7, 2021. The Veteran's left hand fracture is currently rated at 10%. The Board granted an increased rating of 50% for migraine headaches and denied the request for a higher rating for left hand fracture.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral lower hernia, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, skeletal arthritis, sinus disorder, COPD, headaches, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, bilateral eye disorder, erectile dysfunction, or asbestosis. The Board has also found that the Veteran's service connection claims for these conditions are remanded due to outstanding in-service medical records and VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that new evidence received after the July 2019 denial is relevant to the claims of service connection for psychiatric disability, back disability, headache disability, tinnitus, and residuals of TBI. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to have begun during active service.