Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's headaches have not been found to be very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. Therefore, a rating in excess of 30 percent for headaches is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are remanded due to the unavailability of his service department records and the need to attempt to corroborate the stressful events claimed by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work experience.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the highest schedular rating (50%) and no higher, as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection is granted for right foot disabilities including pes planus and hallux valgus. The Board finds that these conditions were aggravated by service but did not pre-exist it.,The Veteran's heart disability is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during active duty or service-connected events, nor is there any link to a disease or injury incurred in service.,Service connection for GERD is granted. The Veteran's condition had its onset during ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's left ankle condition is related to her active duty service and has been granted.,Other conditions, including right ankle, bilateral hip, knee, and back conditions, as well as migraine headaches and HTN, are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to follow substantially gainful employment prior to November 3, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions and new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased disability ratings for migraine headaches and major depressive disorder were denied as there was no evidence of an increase in severity prior to the date of application.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches and depressive disorder associated with TBI have been granted an effective date of October 23, 2007. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has also been granted from October 23, 2007 to September 3, 2014.

The Board has dismissed the service connection claims for other specified depressive disorder, claimed as depression, memory loss, panic and bipolar disorder, and migraine headaches due to lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disability and headaches are remanded due to inadequate rationale in the prior medical opinion. The VA must obtain a new medical opinion addressing whether these conditions are related to his Gulf War service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current headache condition and his service. The Veteran was treated for headaches multiple times during service, but a VA examiner did not consider all relevant medical records or lay statements about continuity of symptoms.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of any of the claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted for migraine headaches, restless legs syndrome, fibromyalgia, sinusitis, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder (including sleep disturbances), neck disorder, lower back disorder, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, or right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to new and relevant evidence. The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of his headaches, bilateral foot condition, and left wrist sprain.

The Board has determined that the VA decision denying service connection for migraines as secondary to service-connected tinnitus was not based on a complete record and requires further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for service-connected erectile dysfunction was withdrawn prior to the promulgation of a decision.,New and material evidence has been received, allowing the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development due to a lack of a VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's headaches and her service-connected disabilities, specifically allergic rhinitis. The Veteran is advised to appear for a scheduled VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development on the issues of service connection for TBI, GERD, hypertension, PTSD, and lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, effective October 20, 2022. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the cumulative impact of his service-connected conditions.