Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found no new or material evidence to reopen these claims. The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denied for all other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person throughout the period on appeal, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, right knee and left knee disabilities, left hip disability, rhinitis, sinus headaches, loss of sense of smell, and loss of sense of taste. The remand requires obtaining private treatment records from Drs. L. and B., scheduling VA examinations to assess the Veteran's claimed conditions, and providing medical opinions on the relationship between service, including exposure to herbicide agents, and the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's post traumatic headaches were not shown to have characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over the last several months prior to May 21, 2019.,After May 21, 2019, the Veteran is already receiving the maximum schedular rating for his headache disability.

Service connection for tension headaches has been granted.,An effective date prior to March 17, 2018, for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder is denied.,A 100 percent rating for unspecified depressive disorder since March 17, 2018, is granted. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,A rating of 10 percent, and no higher, has been granted for degenerative arthritis of the right fifth finger.,Service connection for hypertension has been established.,Service connection for residuals of status post bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome release has been established.,Service connection for migraine headaches has been established.,Service connection for a disability of the ear manifested by dizziness (including vertigo and peripheral vestibular disorder (PVD)) as secondary to service-connected rhinitis has been established.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, has not been established.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, development of records, and consideration of his TDIU claim. The issues include PTSD, urinary tract infection, splenomegaly, kidney stones, headaches (including TBI), fatigue, muscle and joint pain, respiratory disability, neurological disability, and TDIU.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for migraines from February 10, 2011 to June 21, 2018. The remaining issues regarding the Veteran's low back disability and TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for tension headaches, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active-duty service and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD.,The Board also denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD. The Board found that the weight of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's OSA was caused by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the appeal of service connection claims for sleep apnea, a headache disorder, hypertension, a sinus disorder, and a respiratory disorder due to unclear opinions regarding their onset in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of her left foot condition, right foot hammertoe, and migraine headaches are remanded due to the need for new examinations and additional medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, depressive disorder, and headaches are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection for hypertension is granted as secondary to the service-connected depressive disorder. Service connection for a jaw disability remains pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asteroid hyalosis, right eye (claimed as right eye vision disorder) and ocular migraines as secondary to his service-connected headaches. The VA examiner found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right eye vision disorder related to his service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD, migraines, and vertigo have been granted initial disability ratings of 100%, 50%, and 30% respectively. The right shoulder labral tear remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, and right shoulder disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the claims for post traumatic headaches, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, shin splits (right lower extremity), and shin splits (left lower extremity) need to be remanded due to new evidence being added to the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), including memory loss and headaches, has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a claimed disability of the right hand is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations, particularly regarding TBI-related disabilities.

For the initial rating period from November 19, 2014 to July 28, 2015, a rating of 30 percent for myofascial headaches is granted.,For the initial rating period from July 29, 2015 to May 17, 2018, a rating in excess of 30 percent for myofascial headaches is denied.,For the initial rating period beginning May 18, 2018, a rating of 30 percent for myofascial headaches is granted.,The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease claim has been remanded.

The Veteran's headache disability is rated at 50 percent, the highest schedular rating available.,The Veteran's PTSD and headaches are found to be consistent with inability to sustain substantially gainful employment, resulting in a TDIU award.