Migraines & headaches decisions — 2021

The Veteran's migraine headaches, right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral spine disability are not related to service.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of numbness and tingling of the left upper extremity or radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities that could be attributed to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for grand mal epilepsy, traumatic brain injury (TBI), left shoulder impingement, and right shoulder impingement are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these other claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and reopening of a claim are remanded due to scheduling issues and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's sinusitis with headaches is rated as 50 percent disabling from May 16, 2007 to August 20, 2015.,Entitlement for a higher rating for sinusitis with headaches from August 20, 2015 and thereafter is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the Board did not adequately address his work history and employment status, which could affect his eligibility for a TDIU. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for right hand tremors, varicose veins, scrotum, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected DJD, right knee. The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and migraine headaches as secondary to service-connected sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support the Veteran's claim for service connection of headaches, as they are not related to his military service or caused by his service-connected shell fragment wound of the right side of neck with neuropathy of a portion of the cervical cutaneous nerve.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder was granted. Claims for other conditions were denied or remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining addendum opinions regarding the etiology of his radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities and headache disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to new evidence added to the claims file. The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic fatigue, respiratory condition, sleeping disorder, and headaches as due to an undiagnosed illness is still pending.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for musculoskeletal tension headaches is remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to July 31, 2017. From July 31, 2017, his combined disability rating is 100%, but he does not have a single disability rated at least 60% disabling or one disability rated at least 40% disabling and the evidence does not indicate total unemployability due to one disability.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at a 10 percent rating from April 14, 2018. The Board found that the Veteran experienced characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months and these attacks impacted his ability to work.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are presumed to have started during the one-year period following his separation from active service. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of migraine headaches and experienced headaches during service, though no treatment was provided at that time.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's right shoulder disability and service. While he reported discomfort and clicking when raising his arm in service, there are no records indicating any injury or condition related to this issue until after separation from active service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and headaches, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 is granted with a rating of 50%. His migraine headache disability is granted with a rating of 50%, and his hypertension is granted but denied for an increased rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current headaches and either his active service or his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has vacated the February 2018 decision on several service connection claims due to a misinterpretation of the line of duty determination. The claims are now remanded for further development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of cold injury to the feet, and other psychiatric disorders were denied as there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor or diagnosis of residuals of cold injury to the feet. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gout was denied as there is no evidence showing that his gout initially manifested during service, nor did it have a nexus with service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder (presumably sleep apnea), peripheral vascular disease, right leg cellulitis, hypothyroidism, and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service records. The VA will attempt to obtain any missing STRs and provide opinions on whether these conditions are secondary to a service-connected disability.