Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and migraines, as well as his claim for TDIU due to inadequate VA medical opinions. Additional opinions are needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and service.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of sterility, breathing condition, headaches, or sinus condition related to military service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on statutory housebound status was denied as he did not meet the requirements of having a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more, which would qualify him for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to her countable income exceeding the applicable maximum annual pension rate. The appeal is also remanded for issues related to service connection and effective dates.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for migraines prior to November 4, 2021 is denied.,The Veteran's lumbar paraspinal tendonitis (back disability) has been rated at 40 percent since September 15, 2009. The issue of a higher rating remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI residuals, including headaches and cognitive impairment, are rated at a maximum of 70 percent since September 23, 2021.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran is not entitled to an effective date earlier than March 28, 2009 for his 50 percent rating for post-concussive syndrome with muscle tension headaches and photosensitivity.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of hypertension due to new and material evidence. The claims for tuberculosis, left ear hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disability are denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability. The claim for migraine headaches is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed.,Service connection has been reopened for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disorder, tinnitus, and headaches. The Veteran's current conditions are related to her in-service injuries.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for migraine headaches due to inadequate development and lack of an opinion on whether the condition is related to service-connected back and acquired psychiatric disabilities, or the medications prescribed for their treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), migraine headaches, and residuals of head trauma were denied as new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claims. The Board found that the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish current disabilities or link them to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for back, neck, and headaches to obtain new VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of these claimed conditions. The issues are being returned due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Veteran's eczema is granted as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis.,Additional VA examination and opinion are needed for the Veteran's headaches, gastrointestinal disorder (constipation), and fatigue claims.,VA records should be updated on remand.

The Veteran's left arm fracture is granted a 10% rating. Service connection for TBI, headache disorder, left great toe sprain, and right wrist disorder are all granted. The appeal of service connection for diabetes mellitus was withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches prior to September 29, 2016 and a rating in excess of 50 percent after that date are remanded. The Veteran also has claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected depressive disorder and TDIU.,The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is also remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from October 8, 2014, to March 19, 2020. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran was unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than September 3, 2018 and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for migraine headaches. The Board also remanded two issues: service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and service connection for a left knee disability secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of a traumatic brain injury, including headaches, concentration problems, and short-term memory loss, based on his combat experience in Iraq.

The Veteran's TDIU and service connection for migraine headaches, as secondary to a service-connected condition, are both remanded due to the need for additional development.