Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and new information not previously considered.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at a 30 percent initial rating, effective from August 8, 2018. The Board found that the Veteran's headaches cause prostrating attacks at least once a month and granted his claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals, left periorbital injury is being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for a higher disability rating for his scar over the left eye and for an acquired psychiatric disorder are also being remanded.

The Board has granted a rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's migraine headaches, finding that her symptoms more closely approximate very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50 percent, the highest schedular evaluation. The Board also granted TDIU but denied it due to insufficient evidence showing the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right eye vision loss is granted under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 as a result of VA medical treatment, and the Board finds that his depression and headaches are related to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been REMANDED for further development and examination. Issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, right heel disability, left heel disability, and headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a rating for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to inadequate examination reports and unresolved issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disability, including as secondary to tinnitus, are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her headache disorder and a TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show characteristic prostrating attacks of headache pain prior to September 14, 2020, which is necessary for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8100. For the period from September 1, 2015, to September 14, 2020, and beginning September 14, 2020, she was already receiving the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent for her headache disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, but the claim for PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's post-chemotherapy headaches are granted a 30% evaluation. The right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted a 40% evaluation prior to October 31, 2018 and a 30% evaluation thereafter. The left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted a 30% evaluation prior to October 31, 2018 and a 30% evaluation thereafter. Service connection for sleep apnea and traumatic brain injury are denied.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for gastritis, mental condition (presumably PTSD or similar), migraine headaches, nausea associated with gastritis, and low back disability have been dismissed. The claim for right shoulder disability based on arm limitation of motion prior to July 18, 2016, has also been dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a nose injury, bronchitis, hearing loss, and headaches have been denied. The claim for chest pain is remanded, as are the claims for left eye disability and kidney cancer.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including chronic gout, hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), diabetes mellitus, migraine headaches, a sleep disorder with insomnia, tinnitus, and a back disability. The reasons include the need to verify the appellant's claimed service, particularly whether he served in line of duty during any periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's headaches and their relationship to service, tinnitus, and prior treatment. The Veteran will need to provide records from his private provider and undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection for headaches has been granted. The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities allowed him to qualify for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) beginning August 12, 2010. He also received special monthly compensation (SMC) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to an increased rating for CRPS of the left lower extremity and a claim for service connection for various disorders. The remand includes obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.