Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected headaches, left hip disability, left shoulder disability, and tenosynovitis of the left hand. The appeals are related to the merits of the claims rather than new evidence or a presumption.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The effective date of July 15, 1986, has been granted for his cervical spine disability.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for peripheral vestibular disorder due to new and material evidence. The claims for TBI, hearing loss, and low back disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headache disability is granted a maximum initial rating of 50 percent, effective October 8, 2008.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis and tension headaches associated with the cervical spine disability were denied service connection.,Service connection was granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder due to service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and missing VA treatment records. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation benefits for dependents is denied. The decision states that the Veteran was not entitled to these benefits at an earlier time due to miscommunication and lack of proper advice from a VA employee.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder and denied all other issues on appeal. The Veteran's seizures, partial due to TBI, were granted an initial rating of 80 percent but not higher. The Veteran's TBI was denied for ratings prior to April 20, 2015 and after that date. The Veteran's migraines associated with TBI were granted a 30 percent rating. The Veteran was granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has granted higher initial and staged ratings for the Veteran's service-connected headaches, but has also remanded the issue of an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left leg amputation and traumatic brain injury, meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing due to permanent total service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and residuals of heat stroke/dehydration are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The Board also granted a TDIU prior to March 28, 2018 due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's migraines, including as secondary to PTSD, should be remanded for further evaluation and a more detailed medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for frostbite in the feet and hands, as well as his claims for hypertension and migraines were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for both hypertension and migraines.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, GERD, allergies, anemia, and sleep apnea as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not limit or prevent participation in the avocational interests of exercise, photography, and music. The Board denied the request for VR&E benefits to purchase a music keyboard, stationary and electric bicycles, and camera as part of his avocational activities.

The Board has not fully considered all the evidence and remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from VA Community Care programs. The issues of rating the Veteran's back pain and migraines are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent from May 29, 2021. The ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities affecting the sciatic nerve are increased to 20 percent each effective May 29, 2021. Ratings higher than 20 percent for these conditions are denied. Separate ratings of 20 percent are granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy with femoral nerve involvement from May 29, 2021. The Veteran's headache disorder is rated at 50 percent effective February 15, 2021.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are being remanded for further evaluation due to his contention that the condition has worsened and he is entitled to a higher disability rating.