Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication of issues related to service connection, including those involving residuals of hammertoes, low back disability, hypertension, heart disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, GERD, colon disability, and headache.

The appeals for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder, neck disorder, headache disorder, and right knee bursitis have been dismissed. Service connection has been granted for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including erectile dysfunction, headaches, and acid reflux. The cases are being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his psychiatric disability, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and headaches associated with TBI were denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to unclear diagnoses and need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has any other neurological disorders related to Camp Lejeune exposure.

The Board has granted the reopening of previously denied claims for service connection for right knee disability, PTSD, chronic headache disability, and right ear hearing loss. The claim for an eye disability remains pending as it was not reopened.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and reopening of hip disabilities is remanded due to the use of an incorrect form. The Board will issue a SOC so the Veteran can decide whether to continue his appeal.

The Board has found that the remand directives have not been completed as directed and has decided to remand both claims for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches and granted the claim, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of migraine headaches and establishes continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for migraine headaches has been withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issue of service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to Graves' disease.

The Board has denied service connection for headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, and a right shoulder condition as the evidence does not support a link to active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation during the period on appeal.

The Board has determined that the opinions provided by VA and private clinicians regarding the Veteran's varicose veins and tension headaches are inadequate to determine their etiology. The claims are therefore being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for migraines, including migraine variants is granted. The claims for service connection for fatigue, labyrinthine dysfunction, and inguinal hernia residuals are remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, the highest available rating, due to very frequent and severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for TBI prior to February 15, 2021, and in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, MDD, and TBI thereafter is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is denied.

The Veteran's skin disability and headache disability have been granted service connection.,Issues regarding joint pain, shoulder disabilities, and gastrointestinal polyps are still pending and will be remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and headaches. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to March 18, 2020.

The Board has determined that additional information is required before the claims on appeal can be decided. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and headache disorder claims are remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations.