Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for residuals of a head injury, left elbow disability, right elbow disability, and right wrist and hand disabilities due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's combined disability rating reached 100% as of July 2009, meeting the criteria for a TDIU effective from that date. The Board also granted SMC based on his service-connected disabilities starting January 24, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records from 1992 and 1993 at the Wallla Valley VA medical center. The AOJ needs to secure these records or provide a memorandum documenting their efforts.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD rating should be restored from 70 percent to 50 percent, effective February 1, 2019. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and headaches are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches. The issues have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided were insufficient to address the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to incomplete consideration of her subjective statements and medical records, as well as failure to consider whether there was negligence or lack of duty of care by a reasonable healthcare provider.

The Board has remanded the claims for traumatic brain injury, migraine headaches, and vertigo due to inconsistencies in the evidence and need for a medical review.

The Veteran's initial rating for residuals of left medial occipital stroke with congruous right upper quadrantanopia and simple headaches was increased to 30 percent. Ratings for right shoulder strain prior to May 7, 2013 and adjustment disorder with anxiety as of July 6, 2020 were denied.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, depressive disorder, right and left knee disabilities, ischemic heart disease with atrial fibrillation, tension headaches, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, chronic prostatitis, back disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability have been granted. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for these conditions is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The decision also noted that the Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: entitlement to a compensable rating for residuals of a left eye injury and service connection for headaches, which are related to the Veteran's service-connected left eye disability. The decision also notes that there are outstanding VA treatment records and an additional VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 11, 2015. The Board found that an initial 70% rating is warranted for the service-connected PTSD due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The case of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD and entitlement to a compensable rating for headaches are both remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran sustained additional disabilities as a result of his March 1998 VA surgery, including right ear hearing loss and headaches. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to carelessness or negligence by VA.

The Veteran's initial rating for post traumatic headaches has been granted, and he is also granted a TDIU. The case is remanded to determine the nature of his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric, right knee, headaches, neck, and bilateral shin splints. The issues are being returned to the RO for additional development.

The appeal is remanded due to the need for proper development of all raised claims, including service connection and increased rating claims. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated after these issues are resolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of adequate rationale in the previous VA examination opinion and for obtaining an updated medical opinion that addresses whether the Veteran's headaches had onset during service or are otherwise causally related.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for PTSD, TBI residuals with adjustment disorder, and posttraumatic headaches have been withdrawn due to the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (t) rate for the service-connected residuals of TBI from May 12, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for a chronic headache disability, including as related to exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim for left cardiovascular area muscle strain, but not for low back disability or other conditions.