Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Veteran's effective date for service connection of his eye disability is granted as August 29, 1979. Effective dates for the acquired psychiatric disorder and a disability of the central nervous system are denied due to lack of prior claims before May 3, 1995.

The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and fatigue have been granted. The issue of service connection for a disability or undiagnosed illness manifesting in fatigue is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines and total abdominal hysterectomy, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on the severity of her migraine headaches.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted with an effective date of January 8, 2008. The decision found that the Veteran met the schedular criteria for a TDIU as early as January 8, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for common migraines and GERD were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's headaches did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 8100, as they occurred with less severity throughout the appeal period. For GERD, the Board determined that the symptoms did not more nearly approximate those warranting a 30 percent or higher disability rating under DC 7346. The Veteran's predominant symptoms were found to be related to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is separate from GERD.

The Veteran's lumbar spine scar is granted a 10% rating, but not higher.,Service connection for migraine headaches has been reopened and the claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding service connection for migraines, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, hypertension, neurological disorder, headaches, and acquired mental disorder (PTSD), finding that the Veteran's conduct in AWOL was willful misconduct and not related to his current conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury (now claimed as headaches) has been reopened, and the appeal is granted to this extent. The Board also remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any head injury residuals.

The Veteran's appeals for a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches, service connection for a cervical spine disability, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease and a headache disorder, finding that the most probative evidence is against the Veteran's claims.

The Board has denied service connection for a cervical spine disability as the evidence does not establish that the Veteran had such a condition during his period of active duty or within one year after separation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate evaluation of the severity of the Veteran's headaches without medication and during flare-ups, as well as his ability to engage in gainful work with and without medication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, gastritis, left and right knee disabilities, sinusitis with headaches, left foot scar, and adjustment disorder with anxiety are not supported by evidence of a current disability. The issues have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's post-traumatic headaches are rated at a 30 percent since September 1, 2016, and the appeal is granted for this period. For periods after January 25, 2022, the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent has been assigned.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for migraine headaches and bilateral hip disorder due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder and headaches, to include as secondary to service-connected MDD with PTSD and/or tinnitus due to incomplete development. The Veteran's back disorder is related to his in-service slip and fall injury, while the cause of his headaches remains unclear.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative arthritis and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of evidence not yet considered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting migraines were aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.