Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Veteran's migraines have worsened since her last VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of her service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to locate the curricula vitae of the VA examiners who performed the examinations in May 2021 and August 2021.

For the period from January 2, 2014 to August 24, 2020, the Veteran was granted TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. Beginning August 25, 2020, the Veteran's TDIU is no longer applicable as he has a 100% disability rating for persistent depressive disorder and receives SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, to include as secondary to his service-connected TBI residuals, is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the January 2019 VA examination and the need for a new examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in the rating decision and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 50% rating, his GERD is granted a 30% rating as of May 14, 2007, and his lumbar spine disability is granted a 20% rating. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hemorrhoids and headache disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The VA will need to obtain records from Dr. S., conduct updated examinations, and consider whether the symptoms of impaired sphincter control can be separately rated.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches and has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for hypertension (HTN).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and migraine headaches due to deficiencies in previous VA medical opinions. The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a skin disorder was dismissed due to his request to withdraw the claim. The appeals for service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the claim for a compensable rating is denied.,For the period of appeal prior to July 31, 2017, the Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30%, which he seeks an earlier effective date for. The claim for this rating is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and tension headaches disabilities due to additional relevant evidence submitted after the March 2017 statement of the case.

The Board dismissed all requests to reopen service connection claims for various conditions due to the Veteran's representative withdrawing the appeal in August 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for migraine headaches, PTSD rating, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence or lack of a clear opinion regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in assessing the severity of the Veteran's migraine headaches, specifically considering the ameliorative effects of medication. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his migraine headaches.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, right arm and leg disorders, left arm and leg disorders, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was approximately in equipoise with respect to whether the Veteran's headaches were present in service and ongoing ever since.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected right knee strain and PTSD with depressive disorder, as well as for VA treatment records from January 2017 to the present.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection due to Gulf War exposure. Right foot tarsitis and right ankle tendonitis, as well as bilateral eye optic atrophy and migraine headaches are all granted service connection with effective dates prior to February 20, 2014. However, the Veteran's TBI claim has been denied for an earlier effective date.