Migraines & headaches decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left shoulder condition, headache condition, cervical spine condition, lumbar strain, and right knee condition due to insufficient evidence of service connection. The Veteran contends these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraines and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board has determined that sleep apnea is secondary to service-connected PTSD and granted the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for hearing loss, migraines, and TBI were denied. The appeal for a higher rating for PTSD with alcohol use and unspecified depressive disorder was also denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 27, 2018 for the grant of service connection for migraines was denied.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right foot, and left foot disabilities. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for a disability manifested by chest pains and blurred vision. These conditions are not linked to his period of service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, migraines, chronic bronchitis, hemorrhoids, acid reflux, and insomnia have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service occurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left hip disability was denied in March 2009, but reopened due to new evidence. The Board has determined that headaches originated during active service and are service-connected.,Service connection is granted for headaches. Service connection is not granted for left leg, left foot, or left elbow disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues on appeal due to incomplete service records.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are granted a noncompensable disability rating, but the appeal is remanded for further development regarding TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his headache disorder was denied as the evidence did not show characteristic prostrating attacks occurring at least once every two months.,Service connection for vitiligo was denied because there is no evidence of current skin disability.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his voluntary withdrawal of the appeal on three occasions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability, rhinitis, and migraines. The left ankle disability is related to service due to a current diagnosis of lateral collateral ligament strain and deltoid ligament sprain. Rhinitis is presumed as secondary to Gulf War environmental hazards exposure. Migraines are found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, migraine headaches, a deviated nasal septum, left knee tendonitis, right knee tendonitis, and shingles. These conditions are all found to be related to active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between service-connected asthma and claimed rhinitis and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's photophobia and migraine headaches have been granted increased ratings, with the photophobia receiving a minimum of 10% rating under DC 6036. The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50%, the highest schedular rating available. Other issues related to knee disabilities and cervical spine arthritis have also been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have other residuals of his in-service head injury apart from headaches, loss of balance, and service-connected subarachnoid cyst. The Board found no evidence linking these MRI findings to an in-service head injury.

The Board has determined that the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is moot as the Veteran's combined disability rating does not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's headaches disability is rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to her symptoms not meeting the definition of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. Her PTSD disability remains rated at 70 percent from February 1, 2022.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examinations and evaluations due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's conditions, particularly in relation to their service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, especially his anxiety disorder and chronic headaches, are so severe that they preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).