Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury and headaches, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are attributable to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, migraine headaches, cervical spondylosis with myofascial pain syndrome, lumbar DDD, and bilateral ankle tendonitis, render him incapable of re-entering the workforce and working in any substantially gainful capacity. The Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder and residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) with headaches and subjective symptoms due to increased severity of his service-connected conditions. Additional examinations are required to determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's migraines and their relation to service, particularly his deployment in Iraq. The Veteran is seeking service connection for migraines that he claims began during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence received after the May 2017 SOC. The AOJ must review all additional VA treatment records and consider them in their decision.

The Veteran's headache disability, diagnosed as migraine including migraine variants, is granted as service connected. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise and decided in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining issues of service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right foot disability (other than right lower extremity neuropathy), left foot disability (other than left lower extremity neuropathy), and migraine headaches.

The Board has vacated the part of its April 1, 2021 decision that denied an initial rating greater than 50 percent for migraine headaches and remanded the issue of TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, a right knee disability, and headaches should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The VA must provide an adequate examination and opinion addressing the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for major depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and several other conditions are granted. The remaining issues of service connection for knee, shoulder, headache, sleep apnea, and diabetes disorders are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's headaches and indigestion are found to be related to service, while his bilateral knee and elbow disabilities are not.,Service connection is granted for headaches and indigestion.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC claims for migraine headaches are granted, with the effective date being December 1, 2016. The Veteran is now eligible for both benefits due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TBI and migraine headaches have been granted effective as of March 1, 2013. Dependency compensation for his minor child has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and headaches due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be impacted by these decisions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, lumbar DDD, compression fracture, mild bulging post-surgical L5-S1 discectomy surgery with radiculopathy, unspecified depressive disorder, and migraines and tension headaches have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for lumbar radiculopathy in both lower extremities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating claims related to his right knee condition, TBI, headaches (secondary to PTSD), and perennial rhinosinusitis with headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for TDIU from July 9, 2009, and prior to September 1, 2010. However, he met the requirements for TDIU from September 1, 2010, and prior to April 1, 2011.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates were withdrawn.,A 10 percent rating was granted for a scar, status post herniorrhaphy. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the service-connected tension headaches, but has remanded the issues regarding cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent prior to October 11, 2018, and the Board found that this rating is appropriate given his occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,From October 11, 2018, the Veteran's PTSD did not warrant a higher disability rating as he was not experiencing total occupational and social impairment.