Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Veteran's migraine, including migraine variants (headache disability), is rated at the highest schedular rating available due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the addition of VA treatment records since the last Statement of the Case. The issues include service connection for an intestinal disorder, a skin condition, a disability manifesting as weight gain, and GERD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for TBI, migraines, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD and mood disorder) due to lack of a VA examination. The Veteran's accounts and corroborating lay statements suggest that he experienced a motor vehicle accident in service which may have caused his current disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran wishes to withdraw his claim for seizure disorder. The Board has also remanded the issue of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residual headaches due to spinal meningitis.

The Veteran's headaches are granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected sinusitis. His left knee arthritis is granted on a direct basis, and his bilateral hearing loss remains at 0 percent.

The Board has granted a separate 30 percent disability rating for migraine headaches as a residual of septal deviation and vasomotor rhinitis status-post nasal fracture and septorhinoplasty. The issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches, and entitlement to a separate disability rating for a sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea, are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for PVD, pes planus, and right leg cellulitis. The Veteran's sleep apnea and migraine headaches remain under consideration.,Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea and migraine headaches are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, to include facial numbness, as these are found to be proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for post-concussion cephalgia (headaches) prior to April 23, 2012 has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for extraschedular consideration. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet schedular criteria for a TDIU, and thus referred the matter to VA's Director of Compensation Service for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for deviated septum, sleep disability (including sleep apnea), migraine headaches, and sinusitis due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee, left ankle, and right foot disorders are denied as there is no current disability or credible link to his military service. Service connection for lumbar spine disorder, neck disorder, left foot disorder, sleep apnea, and headaches remains pending with additional medical opinions required.

The Board has granted service connection for status post right knee arthroscopy. The other issues of service connection have been remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for vertigo and headaches, as secondary to hearing loss and tinnitus. The remand requires additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's headaches began during service and have been continuous since separation. The Board granted service connection for headaches based on direct evidence of a chronic condition present in service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a migraine headache disability was granted, and he is currently receiving a 50% disability rating from May 14, 2018.,The Board found that the Veteran's condition met the criteria for a 50% disability rating from January 25, 2016 to May 14, 2018.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to review new VA treatment and examination records that were not previously considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headache disorder, gouty arthritis, sleep apnea, and respiratory disorder due to exposure in Southwest Asia. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection, rating adjustments, and TDIU have been dismissed due to withdrawals of claims. The Veteran's headache disability was restored to a 30 percent rating.