Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's dizziness and imbalance, which is currently considered a secondary issue to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and tension headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent headaches, right leg shin splints, and left leg shin splints are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review of records.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, heart condition, headaches, memory loss, respiratory condition, liver condition, muscle pain, and joint pain. The decision also remanded several other issues.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for migraines due to conflicting evidence in the Veteran's records and a need for clarification on whether her preexisting condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left hamstring strain, athlete's foot, and headaches are all granted service connection.,Service connection for a respiratory disability (sinusitis and allergies) is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches and back issues, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim of service connection for headaches as secondary to his PTSD is granted. His PTSD is also rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum rating available under current VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance based on the use of a right foot orthotic device was denied because there is no record of him using such an orthotic in 2020 or 2021.

The Veteran's appeal to reduce his disability rating for service-connected migraine headaches has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including emotional instability reaction (CDA) and anxiety and depression is granted to this limited extent.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability is also granted to this limited extent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The cervical disability was found not to warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, while the short-term memory loss, fatigue, headache, respiratory, and right ear hearing loss disabilities were not supported by evidence meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorders, to include GERD and constipation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since January 1, 2013. However, he was marginally employed from September 9, 2008 to December 31, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic headache condition and skin condition, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are secondary to service-connected sinusitis and diabetes mellitus, type II respectively.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's claimed conditions are inadequate and remanded to obtain new, adequate opinions. The claims for service connection for various disabilities remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current headaches had their onset in-service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, muscle atrophy and weakness, bilateral eye disorders, and headaches due to insufficient evidence regarding whether these conditions are aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraines, and physical impairments of the right shoulder, knees, back, and eyes, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective November 2, 2015.

The Veteran's trixaicin cream was not used in conjunction with a service-connected skin disability, thus the clothing allowance claim for 2016 is denied.