Migraines & headaches decisions — 2021

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches associated with TBI are rated at 30 percent effective from December 18, 2020. The rating for traumatic brain injury remains at 0 percent prior to December 18, 2020 and 10 percent from that date.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, the highest rating available under DC 8100. The Board found that her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher 50 percent rating due to very frequent and prolonged prostrating attacks.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's posttraumatic headaches do not warrant a compensable rating, and his TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the rating issue. The Court ordered remand for further evaluation of the severity and functional impact of the Veteran's headaches without considering medication effects.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected headaches from January 4, 2013 due to a need for further examination. The appeal concerning special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep disorder, headaches, and right knee condition due to exposure to Gulf War hazards. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA clinician.

The Board denied service connection for a headache disorder, finding that the current diagnosis of migraine headaches is not related to service and was not caused by or permanently worsened in severity by a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to properly assess the Veteran's service-connected conditions, as well as to determine if there is a relationship between his current disabilities and active service. The claims for increased ratings and service connection will be remanded.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from March 26, 1991 to April 12, 1998 due to service-connected sinusitis with headaches and secondary Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease, and headache disorder are granted as secondary to his service-connected mental health condition. Effective April 19, 2017, the Veteran is assigned a disability rating of 70 percent for his service-connected unspecified trauma-related disorder with adjustment disorder with anxious and depressed mood.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a cervical spine disability aggravated by the Veteran's right ankle disability, and an initial compensable evaluation for migraine headaches. The case is being returned to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a pulmonary disorder and denied compensable ratings for eczema, tinea pedis (athlete's foot), bilateral ingrown toenails, and headaches.,The Veteran was not found to have current conditions that warranted a higher rating or service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, migraine headaches, TMJ disorder (secondary to a service-connected condition), upper arm burns, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, migraine headaches, TMJ disorder (secondary to a service-connected condition), upper arm burns, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, migraine headaches, TMJ disorder (secondary to a service-connected condition), upper arm burns, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, migraine headaches, TMJ disorder (secondary to a service-connected condition), upper arm burns, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, migraine headaches, TMJ disorder (secondary to a service-connected condition), upper arm burns, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, migraine headaches, TMJ disorder (secondary to a service-connected condition), upper arm burns, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for TMJ is denied. The appeals for service connection for headaches and right upper extremity neurological disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tension headaches and migraine headaches due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives. Additional development is needed, including a new medical opinion from an examiner other than the one who provided the March 2021 opinion.

The Veteran's neuropathy-like neurological symptoms of the left and right lower extremities are service-connected.,Service connection is also granted for headaches, diagnosed as migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain a medical opinion assessing the severity of the Veteran's tension headaches prior to April 20, 2020. The claim will be readjudicated with consideration of all evidence added since the March 2021 decision.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for major depressive disorder and service connection for headaches was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation or service connection, respectively.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the entire period on appeal, as his service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50% from February 20, 2007, which is the highest schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100. The Board found that his very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks of migraines were productive of severe economic inadaptability.