Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee PFPS, right knee PFPS, anxiety, sleep apnea, right ankle condition, PTSD, and high blood pressure have been dismissed.,The previously denied claim of service connection for migraine headaches has been reopened.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to March 13, 2009. The Board found that his education and work experience were sufficient to allow him to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and associated headaches, finding that the Veteran's in-service exposure to combat events likely resulted in TBI. The decision is based on direct evidence of a current disability and an in-service event.

The Board has granted service connection for nosebleeds as secondary to medications used to treat his service-connected bilateral knee conditions. However, the decision is mixed on headaches, with some issues granted and others not.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted. The Veteran does not require regulation of activities to manage his diabetes. As for TDIU, the evidence shows that the Veteran has met the schedular criteria but is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examinations and a need for clarification of certain aspects related to the Veteran's service-connected right knee DJD and migraine headaches.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for headaches, lower extremity arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and a female reproductive disorder are denied. The right wrist disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder claims are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or a link to his tooth extraction. The Board also found that the Veteran's current headache disorder is not related to his service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's LLE radiculopathy is denied as not service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral foot condition is remanded for further evaluation and determination of its etiology.,The Veteran's memory loss is remanded for further evaluation and determination of its etiology.,The Veteran's bilateral shoulder condition is remanded for further evaluation and determination of its etiology.,The Veteran's bilateral elbow condition is remanded for further evaluation and determination of its etiology.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis (claimed as a respiratory condition) is remanded for further evaluation and determination of its etiology.,The Veteran's bilateral knee condition is remanded for further evaluation and determination of its etiology.,The Veteran's OSA is remanded for further evaluation and determination of its etiology.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are remanded for further evaluation and determination of their etiology.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, sinus condition, lung condition (to include as due to exposure to asbestos), stomach condition (to include as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune), headaches (to include as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune), and sleep apnea have all been denied.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a sinus condition has not met the criteria for service connection, as there is no evidence of a chronic sinus condition during his period of service or recent to the filing of the claim. The medical evidence indicates that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a sinus condition and that any symptoms can be attributed to a non-service etiology.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a lung condition (to include as due to exposure to asbestos) has not met the criteria for service connection, as there is no evidence of a lung condition during his period of service or recent to the filing of the claim. The medical evidence indicates that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a lung condition and that any symptoms can be attributed to a non-service etiology.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a stomach condition (to include as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune) has not met the criteria for service connection, as there is no evidence of a stomach condition during his period of service or recent to the filing of the claim. The medical evidence indicates that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a stomach condition and that any symptoms can be attributed to a non-service etiology.,The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches (to include as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune) has not met the criteria for service connection, as there is no evidence of a headache condition during his period of service or recent to the filing of the claim. The medical evidence indicates that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a headache condition and that any symptoms can be attributed to a non-service etiology.,The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea has not met the criteria for service connection, as there is no evidence of a sleep apnea during his period of service or recent to the filing of the claim. The medical evidence indicates that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sleep apnea and that any symptoms can be attributed to a non-service etiology.

The Veteran's headache disability, including migraines, is granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) and OSA are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there is no longer a claim in controversy due to the grant of service connection for migraine headache.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction and remanded other claims due to insufficient evidence. The remaining issues are also remanded as new VA examinations are needed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spondylosis, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and migraine headaches should be remanded due to new evidence being added after a previous SSOC.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain an updated VA examination to assess the severity of his migraine headaches, as the current rating does not consider the impact of medication use.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim for service connection for migraine headaches before a decision was made by the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, have precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to July 20, 2021. However, he was employed as a forklift operator in a protected environment until July 20, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities have aggravated his migraine headache disability, and he is granted service connection for this aggravation. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted due to the combined effect of his service-connected conditions preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are aggravated by his service-connected cervical (neck) disability, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition as secondary to the neck disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with IVDS is dismissed. A 50 percent rating, but no more, is granted for migraine headaches. Service connection is granted for bilateral pes planus and denied for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB). The issue of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded.