Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran's tension headaches and thyroid disability are granted as service-connected, with the latter being presumed due to radiation exposure. Service connection for weight gain is denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to be related to his active service, granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for migraine including migraine variants and COPD due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a headache disability due to inadequate examinations and duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's headaches are currently diagnosed as tension headaches, but the VA examiners did not provide sufficient opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for service connection purposes, and therefore, his claims for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, TBI, migraine headaches, and psychiatric disorder are denied.

The Veteran's neck disability is granted as service-connected, with a grant of the maximum rating (100%) effective from December 30, 2019.,For the period prior to December 30, 2019, his TBI and PTSD are rated at 100%.

The Veteran's headache disorder was granted service connection as it manifested during service and is considered to have been incurred in service. The cervical spine disorder, however, did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and the Board found insufficient evidence to establish a link between the cervical spine disorder and service-connected left shoulder dislocation.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for a headache disorder due to lack of current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The right calf scar is granted a compensable rating. Service connection for the right and left hip conditions, and dermatitis, remains pending due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's initial ratings for sleep apnea, headaches, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, CAD, and DDD were denied. The maximum rating of 50 percent was granted for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood to include traumatic brain injury was granted an initial rating of 70 percent. The Veteran's primary headaches were denied a compensable rating.

The Veteran's migraine headache disorder is not service connected as it is not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a headache disorder and gastrointestinal disorder (IBS) secondary to service-connected disabilities due to insufficient development or opinion.

The Board denied service connection for neck, lower back and cephalgia conditions as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss were denied as there was no evidence of a claim prior to February 24, 2020.,The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss was denied due to the average puretone threshold being at Level II (noncompensable).,Service connection for esophageal disorder and IBS were denied as there is no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and service.,Service connection for a back disability, right shoulder disability, respiratory disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder were granted.

The Veteran's claims for left and right shoulder disabilities, dental disability (for compensation purposes), and migraine headaches have been denied due to the absence of a current disability.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence of a current condition related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran. Service connection for headaches is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining service personnel records, treatment records, verification of stressors, and examinations to determine if current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's initial rating for migraine headaches prior to July 21, 2023 is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher than 30 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's TBI, including hemorrhage of the right cerebral hemisphere, is rated at 10 percent and denied an increased rating.,An initial 30 percent rating for traumatic deviated septum with chronic sinusitis and right maxillary sinus retention cyst was granted effective prior to March 4, 2022. The Veteran's migraine headaches are also rated at 30 percent from January 31, 2020.