Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed for the issue of an increased initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The right elbow scar has been granted a 10 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. Other issues are REMANDED for further development.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for a left leg disability, low back disability, and headaches due to lack of evidence.,Further development is needed to determine if there are any service-connected disabilities that may be related to the Veteran's reported in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the claims for a cervical spine disorder, headache disorder, right-hand disorder, and left-hand disorder due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran's conditions are related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability in some cases.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, back disability, right knee disability, right shoulder/arm disability, neck disability, and headache disability. The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran and his representative.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and gout was granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, left leg condition, right leg condition, and headaches is dismissed.

The Veteran's TDIU rating is granted as of March 17, 2020, based on his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's migraines were found to be very frequent, completely prostrating, and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability prior to December 27, 2019. The Board granted a rating higher than the current 30 percent for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's tension headaches prior to April 20, 2020. The examiner is asked to provide a retrospective opinion on prostrating attacks from December 2009 to April 20, 2020.

The Veteran's migraine and tension headaches are granted a 50% rating from July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019. A more than 50% rating is denied since July 2, 2019. The Veteran's PTSD with severe alcohol use disorder is granted an initial 70% rating since July 1, 2010. The Veteran's IBS with GERD is granted a combined 60% rating since July 1, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is established for cervical spine multilevel degenerative disc disease, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear bursitis, glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, and right elbow lateral epicondylitis with degenerative joint disease and bursitis.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and headaches as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are linked to her active duty service, with the onset likely occurring during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and headaches have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted due to exposure in Southwest Asia. Service connection for left ear hearing loss, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or relationship to service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and further development. The issues of TDIU prior to June 22, 2021, and TDIU from June 22, 2021, are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been found to preclude substantially gainful employment from March 14, 2008 to February 24, 2015. The Board has granted an extraschedular TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the remaining issues due to need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches, cervical spine spondylosis, facet syndrome and cervical myofascial pain syndrome, right shoulder osteoarthritis and labral tear status post arthroscopic repair, thoracolumbar strain, and right knee tendonitis/tendinosis and patellofemoral pain syndrome. The Board found the evidence to be in equipoise as to whether these conditions arose during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for chronic headaches due to a VA surgery, and requests a thorough medical examination to determine if the Veteran sustained an additional disability of residual headaches and whether it was caused by carelessness or negligence on the part of VA.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further review of his service connection claim for migraine headaches secondary to right ear eustachian tube dysfunction, and the extraschedular rating for his right ear disability.