Migraines & headaches decisions — 2021

The Veteran's migraine and tension type headaches have been rated at a maximum of 50 percent, which is the highest schedular rating allowed under DC 8100 for headaches. The Board found that the frequency and severity of the Veteran’s headache symptoms are comparable to very frequent prostrating and prolonged attacks of headache pain productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep apnea due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of headaches has been dismissed without prejudice due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, left mallet ring finger, and headaches have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, no current diagnoses were found for these conditions, and a compensable rating was denied for PFB.

The Veteran is granted TDIU based on service-connected disabilities of major depressive disorder with traumatic brain injury and migraine including migraine variants associated with major depressive disorder, which are considered as one disability. The Veteran is also granted SMC due to statutory housebound status.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his employment and earnings, as well as the need for a recent VA examination assessing his ability to work.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for rhinitis and migraine headaches, both claimed as secondary to her service-connected asthma disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were proximately due to or caused by her service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including back disability, headaches, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, bilateral foot condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's original service connection claims were received by VA on November 25, 2015. The awards for TBI, REM sleep behavior dysfunction with somnambulism, and post-traumatic headaches are established from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not receive notice of the April 2010 denial and thus, the decision is not final. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, TBI, and headaches have been denied. The Board has found no evidence of a current disability in these conditions.,For the right and left knee disabilities, the Veteran is being asked to provide additional medical evidence linking his current symptoms to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for headaches, residual of traumatic brain injury (TBI), is denied. The preponderance of evidence does not support the presence of incapacitating episodes due to headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions, incomplete Reserve service records, and need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings on a seizure disorder and headaches, as well as the claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. Additional development is needed including obtaining VA treatment records from Madigan and Joint Base Lewis McChord, and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's headache disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened, and the Board is remanding all other issues on appeal.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for impingement syndrome. The Veteran's eczema has been rated at 60 percent since June 22, 2016. Migraine headaches are currently rated at 50 percent effective April 1, 2009 and TBI is rated at 50 percent effective December 3, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including unspecified depressive disorder, atypical headaches with features of migraines, chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent, and he is granted service connection for headaches as an objective neurologic abnormality associated with his cervical spine disability. The issue of TDIU is referred to the AOJ.