Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of right lower extremity radiculopathy and increased rating for migraine headaches has been denied.,An effective date earlier than June 9, 2017 is not granted for the award of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for high blood pressure, colitis, and prostate cancer residuals are denied.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral elbow disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.,The effective dates for the grants of service connection for vertigo, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss need to be determined.,The 30 percent rating for scalp laceration needs to be reconsidered.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for vertigo and scalp laceration are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability, headache disability, and residuals of TBI are being remanded for further examination to determine their relationship to service-connected conditions.,Additionally, the Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is also being remanded for a new rating determination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and opinions. The Veteran is claiming his symptoms are manifestations of a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI).

The Veteran's headaches began in service and have continued since, granting service connection on a presumptive basis.,Her right knee pain also began in service and has continued since, granted service connection on a presumptive basis.,Her left knee pain also began in service and has continued since, granted service connection on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50% effective February 22, 2023. Prior to that date, the rating was denied.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including right and left ear hearing loss, a left ankle disorder, right shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder impingement syndrome, a right hip disorder, a left elbow disorder, headaches, and anxiety. The appeals were based on the Veteran's contention that these conditions are related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches to obtain addendum VA medical opinions due to inadequate previous opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, sleep apnea, anemia, Parkinson's disease, and neurocognitive disorder have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a relationship to service.,There is no evidence of any headache disability during the pendency of the claim or approximate thereto. Sleep apnea was not present in service or within one year after separation from service. Anemia, Parkinson's disease, and neurocognitive disorder did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, headache disorder, right hip disability, and left hip disability are all granted as service-connected. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied in April 2004, and the effective date of service connection is being denied prior to April 29, 2014.,Claims for various foot conditions, ankle conditions, wrist condition, low back condition, knee conditions, hip condition, bronchitis, sleep apnea, hypertension, and headaches were all denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions and a duty to assist error. The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD or headaches is being returned for further review.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU as of August 8, 2022. His combined disability rating is at least 70 percent with at least one service-connected disorder rated at least 40 percent disabling.,For the period prior to August 8, 2022, there is sufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that the Veteran may be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board denied the TDIU claim as his combined disability rating was at least 70%.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of migraine headaches and service connection for a left ankle condition are remanded due to the need for new examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) residuals, finding that there is a causal relationship between the TBI and the current diagnosis of headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the separation of symptoms between PTSD and TBI, as well as the frequency and severity of his migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for migraines prior to June 28, 2019, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter was denied. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for recurring pregnancy loss and related residuals, as well as TDIU.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for recurring pregnancy loss and related residuals is currently pending and requires additional medical opinions to address the etiology of her diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's headaches, cervical spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the possibility of worsening symptoms.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's pes planus was not aggravated by service, and remanded for further development regarding his claims of migraines and a disability manifested by dizziness. The issues are now pending for further review.