Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. The Board has ordered remand on several issues, including the rating for hearing loss and service connection for various disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected unspecified anxiety with depression and posttraumatic disorder.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including breathing disorder, back disorder, headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disorder, heart disorder, painful joints, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, obesity, vision disorder, intestinal disorder, and sleep apnea. The Board also notes that no presumptive service connection is being considered for any of the conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 4, 2017.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for migraine headaches prior to November 9, 2020, is denied.,An evaluation higher than 50 percent for migraine headaches from November 9, 2020, forward, is also denied.

The Veteran's unauthorized non-VA medical expenses at Grandview Medical Center on October 21, 2017 are granted for an emergent condition of severe headache that progressed to nausea and vomiting. The nearest VA facility was not feasibly available due to the urgent nature of his condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's headache disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board has granted a 10% disability rating for the left toe disorder, but remanded other service connection claims due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for migraines including migraine variants with atypical migraines has been denied. The disability is currently rated as 50 percent, but the Veteran seeks an increase.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for migraines and service connection for hyperthyroidism was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for migraines prior to August 10, 2020, or a higher than 50 percent rating thereafter. Service connection for hyperthyroidism was also denied.

The Veteran's OSA and headaches are granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities, while his TBI claim is denied. Effective dates for the grants of service connection have been set at August 28, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headache disability was not incurred in or caused by his military service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to discrepancies in the record and need for further clarification regarding the Veteran's ability to obtain suitable employment with his additional service-connected disabilities. The VRC is instructed to provide a supplemental opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorder, but the issues of service connection for headaches (migraines), stomach disorder, and right toenail disorder have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for a headache disorder, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities, must be remanded due to inadequate examination and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, but with effective dates of October 26, 2017.,No effective date earlier than October 26, 2017, was established for the grants of service connection or increased ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a scar is granted.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for left knee disability is set at January 21, 2011. The earlier requested effective date is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings in various conditions are being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence after the October 2019 SOC.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 50% for chronic daily headaches, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, fibromyalgia, CFS, IBS, and headaches. The reasons given were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.