Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 30 percent rating for the period prior to October 4, 2010. The claims of increased ratings for his bilateral knee and hip disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that the injuries sustained in the July 1987 motor vehicle accident were not incurred in the line of duty due to the Veteran's willful misconduct. Therefore, service connection for the claimed disabilities is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Depressive Disorder), a respiratory disorder, headaches, and muscle pain. The diagnoses are related to in-service stressors during the Gulf War.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury and headaches due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable disability rating for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and the retrieval of private treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder, including migraines, and a sleep disorder, both of which are found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has restored the previously assigned disability ratings of 50% for service-connected migraine headaches and PTSD, finding that the reductions were improper due to lack of evidence showing sustained improvement in the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, a headache disorder, and a bilateral shoulder disorder prior to the Board's decision.

The previously denied claim for service connection for headaches is reopened and granted. The Veteran's psychiatric disability, residuals of a left eye injury with floaters, and herpes simplex are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for eye and vision impairment including symptoms of eye pain, photophobia, and headaches is remanded due to the need for a comprehensive examination with a neurologist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ankle disability, bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis, and migraines is remanded due to new evidence submitted. The TDIU issue is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment from September 28, 2018 to July 15, 2021.,Throughout the rating period on appeal, the Veteran experienced migraines with very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's migraine headaches, specifically whether they are caused by or aggravated by her service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, right ankle disability, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to inadequate opinions in the VA examinations.

The Veteran's migraine headache disability is granted a 30 percent rating from March 24, 2021. The bilateral plantar fasciitis remains at a 10 percent rating. The left hip disability is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and upper occipital region double cyst formation rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period prior to June 5, 2014.

The Board has already denied the appeals for effective dates prior to March 4, 2014 for service connection of hemorrhoids and headaches. The appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's tension headaches are now rated at 50% effective from February 9, 2018. Service connection for a genitourinary disability (urethritis) is denied.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the prior remand and, consequently, remand is required to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the Veteran's migraines for the entire period on appeal prior to November 5, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his psychiatric, hand, hip, knee, back, and headache disorders. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision without these evaluations.