Migraines & headaches decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU due to new evidence not having been considered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral ankle, knee, and low back disabilities as well as headaches secondary to PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations.,Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has a bilateral ankle disability, whether it began during service, and its relationship to his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines, including as secondary to his PTSD, was denied. His claim for TDIU was granted due to the severity of his PTSD and related conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine strain and left knee strain, but denied service connection for gastrointestinal disorder and migraines. The case is remanded for further development regarding WPW syndrome and right foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for traumatic brain injury with cognitive disorder and headaches, as well as diplopia secondary to fourth cranial nerve palsy, was denied. The Board found that the residuals of TBI did not warrant a higher than 50 percent rating, while the compensable rating for diplopia was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hand disability, left foot disability, and back disability. The appeals have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.,The Veteran was not provided with VA examinations or medical opinions for his acquired psychiatric disorder and migraine headaches.

The Board has found that remand is necessary for several reasons, including the need to obtain VA treatment records and conduct new examinations due to a material worsening of symptoms since the last VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the PTSD and headaches disability claims.

The Board denied service connection for a headache disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and chondrosarcoma of the brain as these conditions are not shown to be related to active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected chronic prostatitis and denied service connection for a left knee disability. The right knee, sinusitis with epistaxis (claimed as nose bleeds), environmental allergies, and sinus headaches claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for cluster headaches was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to October 8, 2019 and did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and remanded the issue of service connection for Headaches.

The Veteran's migraine disability is granted as secondary to her service-connected fibromyalgia. The issues of a higher rating for fibromyalgia, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between current tension headaches and his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were rated at 30 percent prior to September 12, 2017 and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's hiatal hernia, gastritis, and chronic distal esophagitis (GERD) were rated at 10 percent and denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for migraine headaches is granted to 30 percent prior to October 26, 2019. A higher rating of more than 30 percent is denied from that date forward.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of her condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's headaches and their relation to service. The case will be reconsidered with a new addendum opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, thus entitling him to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance. The issue of SMC based on being housebound is dismissed as moot due to the grant of SMC by reason of aid and attendance.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of hypertension, epilepsy, and migraine headaches due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches on a secondary basis to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and panic disorder.