Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of chronic headaches due to a lack of adequate opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus caused or aggravated his headaches.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's acquired psychiatric claim but remanded both claims due to a lack of VA examination for his headache and acquired psychiatric disability. The Board is now requesting additional VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for recurrent maxillary sinusitis with headaches is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the January 2022 VA examination. The examiner did not consider symptoms from the period before September 2012, and there are no updated VA treatment records covering this time frame.

The Veteran's ocular migraines are not rated higher than 30 percent prior to September 27, 2018.,For the period from May 3, 2021, a rating greater than 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic headaches, residuals of a right inguinal hernia, lumbar spine disorder, chest pains (cardiac toxicity), neck disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and loss of vision are all granted. The cases are remanded for additional examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 50 percent for migraine headaches was denied, and her TDIU claim before October 6, 2009, was also denied.

The Veteran's lower back injury is denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a nexus between the current condition and service.,The Veteran's bilateral flatfeet are rated at 30% since October 16, 2020. The claim for higher ratings prior to that date is remanded due to lack of compliance with remand directives.,Service connection for chronic headaches, allergic rhinitis (chronic nose bleeding), and sleep apnea syndrome is remanded as the RO did not substantially comply with remand directives.,Service connection for cervical spine pain and right jaw injury with residuals is also remanded due to lack of compliance with remand directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection for headaches due to inadequate examinations and new evidence being needed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a headache disability is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for neck, left ankle, and low back conditions have been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for migraines has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for rhinitis, loss of teeth, and neck disability as secondary to service-connected residuals of fractured mandible and maxilla. Sinusitis and headaches are remanded due to insufficient etiology opinions.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for balanitis with phimosis, erectile dysfunction, headaches, anxiety disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 29, 2007, due to combined service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran is also granted special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) based on the statutory housebound rate from December 30, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to service connection for various conditions, including right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, uterine fibroids, arthritis, skin disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, shin splints, migraine headaches, and anemia. The Board has determined that these claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any headache disorder that may be present. The Veteran's heart disorder is denied as not incurred in service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, right foot condition, and chronic headache condition. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were related to his military service.,There was no clear link between any of the Veteran’s current diagnoses (facet arthritis, osteoarthritis, and migraines) and his service.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, including those related to PTSD, headaches, hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, heart disability, erectile dysfunction, and gonorrhea.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, cardiovascular conditions, and left ear hearing loss have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for headaches, back condition, prostate condition, bladder condition, kidney condition, hepatitis, and nicotine dependence are dismissed as the appeal is not about service connection at all.,The Veteran's claim for a back condition has been remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left ear hearing loss, right ankle disorder, hip strains, restless leg syndromes, vascular disease, edema/varicose veins, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and fibromyalgia. The decision also noted that the Veteran's anxiety disorder was granted at a 50% rating for the initial period from June 24, 2011 to September 13, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was reopened and granted. The claims for toxic optic neuropathy, right hip osteonecrosis, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, muscle spasms of the neck, back, arms, fingers, legs and toes, seizure disorder, migraine headaches, right thigh disability, bone disorder, brain tumor, neurological disabilities of the upper extremities, and service connection for a left knee disability are all granted.,The Veteran's toxic optic neuropathy is secondary to his service-connected pain disorder and depression with history of self-medicating with alcohol. His right hip osteonecrosis is also secondary to his service-connected pain disorder and depression with history of self-medicating with alcohol. The bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, muscle spasms of the neck, back, arms, fingers, legs and toes, seizure disorder, migraine headaches, right thigh disability, bone disorder, brain tumor, neurological disabilities of the upper extremities are all secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.