Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Board granted service connection for headaches as secondary to genital herpes, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and providing VA examinations.

The Board granted a 50 percent disability evaluation for migraine headaches effective August 10, 2021, and a 70 percent disability evaluation for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified effective August 16, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headaches and the grant of an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus with degenerative disease and callouses are granted. The claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is denied, as is the claim for service connection for heart disability and neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 1, 2015. The Board has granted TDIU from that date.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for chronic fatigue, heartburn and indigestion, and headaches due to insufficient medical opinions on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for the issues of entitlement to higher initial evaluations for status post left shoulder dislocations with arthroscopic repair labrum tear; residual scars of the left shoulder status post arthroscopic repair; painful scars of the left shoulder and right forearm; restless leg syndrome; and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, as well as preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is neither proximately due to nor aggravated by his service-connected chronic sinusitis and is not otherwise related to an in-service disease or injury.,The Board also denied the Veteran's increased rating claim for post-concussive headaches prior to April 21, 2017, and thereafter. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code (DC) 8100.

The Veteran's tension headaches were diagnosed during service and continue to this day, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's headache disorder is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's chronic right leg cramps and chronic left leg cramps are granted as service connected due to a qualifying chronic disability related to his Gulf War service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and abdominal pain have been reopened. A higher 20 percent rating is granted for bilateral dry eye syndrome, but an earlier effective date is denied. A higher 40 percent rating is granted for lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's claims for service connection for breathing disorder and hernias are denied. Other issues related to increased ratings or service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tension headaches and right trigeminal nerve disability are remanded due to inadequate recent VA examinations.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for service-connected migraine headaches and hypertension, as well as the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU), for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's asthma has not been found to warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.,The Veteran's chronic headaches have not been found to warrant a higher initial disability rating.,Service connection for hair loss (claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness) is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for headaches and status post tendon relocation of the left thumb with arthritis are being remanded due to new evidence added since the January 2020 SOC. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA treatment records from Lake Regional Neurology, authorize the Veteran to provide private medical records, schedule a VA examination, and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent from January 9, 2015.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and right upper extremity neurological disorder is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed traumatic brain injury and its relationship to his service. The VA will need to obtain additional medical records, conduct a new examination, and provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for service-connected tension headaches prior to April 16, 2019. The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further consideration of an increased rating.

The Veteran's headache disorder is presumed to have been incurred in service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. However, his need for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status is denied.