Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions.

The appeals to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability are dismissed. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened, but the Veteran's tinnitus and headaches remain in dispute.

The Veteran's unspecified circulatory system condition claim has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of her appeal.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted, with a 10 percent disability rating effective September 1, 2016.

The Board has not received a proper medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are caused or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum from a VA examiner.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date prior to July 19, 2018, for the grant of service connection and special monthly compensation. The effective date was set at July 19, 2018, which is when VA received the Veteran's intent to file a claim.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, headache disorder, Hepatitis C, and seizure disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected disabilities, including residuals of CVA, back pain, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeals for service connection are also remanded as there was insufficient evidence in the record regarding the relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his service-connected CVA.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that her service-connected conditions do not render it impossible for her to obtain or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied a compensable rating for chronic tension headaches prior to June 15, 2015, finding that the Veteran's headaches did not meet the criteria for a 10% disability rating due to insufficient evidence of prostrating attacks.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic headaches and arthritis of the cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left ankle rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since his retirement in October 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for dermatitis has been remanded due to the lack of a VA examination addressing his chest condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person to perform personal care functions of everyday living or to protect himself from hazards and dangerous incidents.

The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches from March 2, 2020 is dismissed. The Veteran's entitlement to TDIU is denied as the review period has closed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis, migraines as secondary to sinusitis, and insomnia have been granted. The claim for insomnia is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches has been withdrawn by his representative.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to August 2, 2021 and at 50 percent from August 22, 2014 for migraine headaches. The case of service connection for a left knee disability (secondary to service-connected right foot disability) and increased rating for partial complex epilepsy is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal condition, and migraines due to inadequate opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's symptoms include difficulty sleeping, cognitive impairment, daytime fatigue, and sleep impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, gastrointestinal condition (GERD), cervical spine disability, skin disability, sinusitis, rhinitis, headache disability, and sleep disorder.

The Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, neurological disabilities of the lower extremities, and left shoulder disability have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and service.,Specifically, the Veteran's migraine headaches are not considered to be related to an in-service injury or disease, as his service records do not show any complaints of or treatment for such issues.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since January 9, 2002. A TDIU is granted effective from April 8, 2016.