Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected migraine was granted a rating of 50 percent, but the appeal for an increased rating and TDIU based on this condition is denied. The Veteran also received a grant of TDIU based on his service-connected conditions, with the exception that it must be remanded to determine if he qualifies for extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examination reports and new evidence may be needed. The Veteran is seeking service connection for left wrist, right knee, and headache disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that his current disability is proximately due to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and TBI prior to December 12, 2019 are denied. The claim for service connection for headaches is remanded.

The Veteran is granted an initial 30 percent disability rating for her migraine disability prior to July 9, 2018. However, she is denied increased ratings in excess of 30 percent thereafter.,Service connection for a respiratory condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA opinions obtained in October 2021 are inadequate for several of the issues, and thus these claims must be remanded again to obtain new medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, back condition, GERD, dyspepsia, headaches, and erectile dysfunction will need to be addressed based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's TBI rating was reduced from 10% to noncompensable effective June 18, 2015. The Board found that the evidence did not show improvement in her TBI and restored the 10% rating.,The Veteran's migraine headaches rating was reduced from 50% to 30% effective August 1, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not show improvement in her migraines and restored the 30% rating.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to uncertainty over when the Veteran started experiencing symptoms and whether they were early indicators or markers of OSA.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for migraines, reopening of the back disorder claim, and service connection for right lower extremity numbness were denied. The case is remanded to obtain an assessment of the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated as 30 percent disabling from September 23, 2013 onwards. The right femur disability is rated at 20 percent prior to June 29, 2011 and 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and bipolar disorder have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 25, 2015.

The Veteran's headaches were rated at 30 percent from September 1, 2003, to December 25, 2012.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased disability evaluations for his left and right knee, left elbow, and headache disabilities as he withdrew these claims during a hearing. The claim for an earlier effective date for a 20% evaluation for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied because there is no evidence of a factually ascertainable increase in the condition within one year prior to the scheduled examination.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to the need for an examination to assess his functional limitations caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as it is unclear whether the Veteran has submitted a completed VA Form 21-8940 and/or VA Form 21-4192. The Veteran's TDIU application status needs to be clarified.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral eye disability, headaches, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and chloracne. The decision also noted that an effective date earlier than March 24, 2017, for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a TBI and a headache disorder due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether he has these conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his claimed conditions, which he contends are related to an in-service explosion of an immersion heater that caused burns to his face and left eye.

The Veteran's tension headaches were granted a 50% disability rating as of September 3, 2019. The condition was found to be productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the exception of his claim for service connection for skin disability. The remaining conditions have been granted based on their direct relationship to service.