Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for atypical chest pain and entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea. The remaining issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left ankle disability, painful scar of the left lateral malleolus, linear scar of the left lower extremity, and lumbar spine disability as well as service connection for headaches are remanded for further development.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal of service connection for left ear hearing loss. Service connection is granted for lumbar spine condition, but the claims for headaches, IBS, a left knee condition, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve pain are remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for fibromyalgia and IBS were denied. The Board found that the current schedular ratings adequately reflected her symptoms.,Service connection was granted for sinusitis, but not for headaches.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Headache Disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for headaches as secondary to service-connected DJD of the lumbar spine, and entitlement to SMC at the housebound prior to July 18, 2014, and based on the need for aid and attendance. The remand is due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's headaches and his service-connected DJD of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's skin disorder, including skin cancer, is being remanded for further evaluation due to new evidence received since the final July 2008 rating decision.,The Veteran's respiratory disorder, including COPD, and headaches are also being remanded as there may be a relationship with service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for sinusitis, sinus and migraine headaches, and rhinitis have been granted. The claim for service connection for a deviated nasal septum is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion. The rating for asthma remains remanded.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for service-connected TBI residuals and tension headaches have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating at any time during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI and headaches are rated at the maximum allowed, but his tinea pedis is not compensable. The Board found that he has right arm disability of nerve damage/muscle atrophy, vein damage, and injury (previously claimed as scars, status post brachial artery repair), a right shoulder disability, and right-hand arthritis due to willful misconduct.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, internal hemorrhoids, TBI, and headaches with migraine features have been granted service connection.,An increased rating of 10 percent has been granted for the left and right knee disabilities since July 7, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial compensable disability rating for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), increased ratings for Major Depressive Disorder associated with TBI, and increased ratings for migraine headaches. Additionally, the claim for total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is also being remanded.

The Veteran is granted a 30 percent disability rating for tension headaches from March 7, 2014 to July 26, 2017.,From this date forward, the Veteran's condition warrants a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for migraine headaches, stroke residuals, back disorder, left knee disorder, sleep apnea, GERD, and heart disorder due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to new evidence of worsening knee conditions, as well as secondary service connection issues.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 16, 2010 for service connection of cerebral headaches as secondary to a brain tumor. The Veteran's claim was raised by the record and not addressed in her prior claims.

The Veteran withdrew his motion to revise the Board's July 2021 decision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The Board dismissed the motion without prejudice.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches prior to September 26, 2019, and as of that date but less than 30% is denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a finding of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for pseudofolliculitis barbae, right and left knee disabilities, bilateral foot disability, migraine headaches, psychiatric disability, hypertension, stomach disability (acid reflux), cervical spine disability, low back disability, sleep apnea, hemorrhoids, surgical scar on lower back, neurological disability of the left lower extremity, and neurological disability of the right lower extremity. Additional development is required to obtain updated VA medical treatment records and properly executed releases for any private care providers who have treated the Veteran.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's migraine headaches, which are service-connected as secondary to hypertension, need further examination and opinion before a final decision can be made.