Migraines & headaches decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, headache disorder, sleep apnea and insomnia disorders, type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, and ischemic heart disease have all been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headache disorder and sleep disorder with memory loss due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence or lay statements.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a seizure disorder, chronic headache disorder, and OSA due to potential issues with the evidence provided.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions provided in a previous decision. The VA is required to obtain an opinion from a neuropsychiatrist or neurologist and psychiatrist regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed neurological and psychiatric issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and sinusitis, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of CUE in the July 2014 rating decision that granted service connection for cluster headaches, finding no clear and unmistakable error.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of left foot disorder and left ankle disorder, as well as migraine headaches, are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, leaving no issues to be decided by the Board.

The Veteran's cervico-genic headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for very frequent prostrating attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of hypertension and a headache disability for further development as there are issues with the medical opinions provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, right ear hearing loss, and bilateral knee disability due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the credibility and probative value of the Veteran's lay statements. Additional development is needed in each case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension/blood pressure disability, transient ischemic attack/stroke, coronary artery disease (CAD), kidney disease, stage 3, headache disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and psychiatric disability due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been granted a 50% rating, the maximum schedular rating. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including private treatment records and VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left foot disorder, right foot disorder, headaches, and right knee disorder due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA and/or private treatment records and providing an addendum medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's migraines are related to service-connected depressive disorder and/or asthma.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and headaches disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, bowel and bladder dysfunction, hip impairments, ankle strains, flat feet, knee limitations of flexion, shoulder disability, elbow bursitis/limitation of flexion, and tension headaches have been granted. The Veteran also received increased ratings for his right hip impairment and limitation of extension as well as a 60 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability effective November 13, 2014.

The Veteran's tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia, a depressive disorder, and/or anxiety disorder), headaches, left foot bunion, and right foot bunion are all granted service connection.,Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder is granted based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's back disorder is remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it is related to his in-service slip and fall injury.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, is remanded for an addendum opinion addressing whether it is secondary to the service-connected back disorder or tinnitus.,The Veteran's headaches are remanded for a VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service complaints of head pain and/or service-connected tinnitus.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded for an addendum opinion on whether it is secondary to his acquired psychiatric disorder and/or back disorder.