Migraines & headaches decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for tension headaches, right foot onychomycosis, and left foot onychomycosis due to a lack of VA examiner opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is requested to undergo further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for back disability, headache condition, right hip disability, and left hip disability due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from Charleston VA Medical Center dated between 1978 and 2001.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches has been withdrawn. The claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, sleep apnea, breast cancer residuals, cholecystectomy residuals, right knee disability, left knee disability, left foot injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), traumatic brain injury with residuals, memory loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, and tinnitus have been dismissed. The claim for service connection for temporomandibular joint disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated as 50 percent disabling, the highest schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder is dismissed.,Service connection granted for right wrist disability, left wrist disability, and headaches as a residual of TBI.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disability, erectile dysfunction (ED), and bilateral foot disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim for a compensable initial rating for tension headaches prior to April 20, 2020 due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and he is granted service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and headaches. The claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II remains pending as it was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for TDIU and SMC were previously remanded by the Board, but have been returned to the Board due to a Court Joint Motion for Remand (JMR).,For the period prior to July 21, 2009, the Veteran was not found unemployable based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, skin disability, and headaches due to incomplete medical records and lack of adequate opinions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating of 30 percent for his headache disorder before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches is granted, subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits. The Veteran's entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected migraine headaches is remanded as there are outstanding VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% since the beginning of the appeal period, which is more than the current 10% rating. The Board found that the Veteran's migraines meet the criteria for a 50% disability rating due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's appeal seeking an earlier effective date for her service-connected migraine headaches must be dismissed due to her failure to comply with the appropriate claims processing rules regarding the perfection of a legacy Board appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is precluded from obtaining or maintaining any gainful occupation due solely to these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted service connection, but the effective date for the increased rating is denied.,The Veteran's tension headaches were granted service connection and an effective date of November 14, 2016 is assigned.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for migraines has been denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with residuals of TBI has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding his claimed disabilities and their relationship to active duty, including exposure to G-forces as a pilot.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to verify the Veteran's periods of service and obtain any outstanding records, including treatment records. The claims for service connection are remanded.

The Board has granted reopening of the claims for service connection for an eye disability, headaches, fatigue, a skin rash, joint pain, sinusitis, and tinnitus. The appeals are granted to this extent only.