Migraines & headaches decisions — 2021

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for a Traumatic Brain Injury and secondary service connection for Headaches, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorders, tinnitus, and sleep apnea. As a result, the claim for service connection for headaches is granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a left shoulder disability, an initial rating for post-concussion syndrome with cognitive disorder and adjustment disorder, with anxiety and insomnia, and a rating for tension headaches associated with post-concussion syndrome have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current left shoulder disability and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to maintain gainful employment effective February 25, 2013. A TDIU is granted on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for right hand disability, headaches, and PTSD. The Veteran's disabilities are found to be related to an altercation during INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a disability rating of 70 percent from October 3, 2019. The other claims were either denied or remanded.,Service connection for fibromyalgia and migraine headaches was not established.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis prior to August 23, 2011. The evidence did not establish that his service-connected conditions alone rendered him incapable of obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment during this period.

The Veteran's headache disability was previously rated as noncompensable prior to August 3, 2020. Beginning on August 3, 2020, the disability is now rated at 50 percent.,The Board found that the Veteran experienced very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability beginning on August 3, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected post-concussion headaches were rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that this rating was appropriate given the frequency of his attacks (approximately two to three times a month) and their duration (one to two days). The Board did not find severe economic inadaptability due to these headaches.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted from January 3, 2013 to August 6, 2019. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date and for the entire period on appeal is denied. Other claims are also addressed.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for migraine headaches and TDIU prior to April 13, 2017 due to new evidence received since the last SSOC.

The Veteran's HIV-related illness, which manifested with recurrent opportunistic infections and multiple body system involvement, was rated at 100% effective December 22, 1987 due to clear evidence of CUE in the April 1994 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether his tension headaches are related to service, including a 2010 incident where he was struck by a ladder on the back of his right ear.

The Board has granted service connection for gastrointestinal symptoms, tinnitus, and hearing loss related to Gulf War illness. Service connection was denied for chronic headache disability, left leg condition, right leg condition, and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and following substantially gainful employment. The case was referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to be related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.,The Veteran's blood clots and hypertension are not found to be related to herbicide exposure or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions regarding psychiatric disorders, aneurysm status post craniotomy, cognitive deficits and dementia, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development. The initial rating for his left ankle disability remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment from May 21, 2009, until October 18, 2013.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches is granted as his current disability was shown to have increased in severity beyond the natural progression during his active duty service.