Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for maxillary sinusitis with headaches prior to August 17, 2022 is denied as the evidence does not show three or more incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for hypertension has been withdrawn.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, and right lower extremity pain (claimed as sciatica).,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his foot conditions have also been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for unspecified bipolar disorder and headaches due to the need for new examinations to assess their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and a rating in excess of 30 percent for GERD due to inadequate medical opinions and issues raised under Manlincon v. West, 12 Vet. App. 238 (1999).

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the current disability is not related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.,The Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes based on his June 2017 audiometry results.,The Veteran's migraines with dizzy spells are not related to service. The examiner found no evidence of migraine symptoms during service and noted that the Veteran's symptoms were more consistent with allergies.,The Veteran's chip fracture of the right fifth mid phalanx is currently rated at 10 percent, but a higher rating is denied as there is no evidence of severe foot injury or actual loss of use of the foot.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a compensable rating for the service-connected migraine headache disability due to the Veteran's request to withdraw his appeal. The earlier effective dates for major depressive disorder (MDD) and hypertension (HTN) disabilities were granted.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and an unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in service.,Both conditions were found to be related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a headache disorder and an increased rating for PTSD is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

Service connection is granted for migraine headaches. Service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional evaluations and opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, including tinnitus, migraines, costochondritis, anxiety disorder, and obstructive pulmonary apnea. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is also considered due to the interrelated nature with other claims.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is granted as it is secondary to a fall during active duty. The claims for left ear hearing loss, chronic headaches, chronic sinusitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dysentery, left elbow disability, middle back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability are denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine disorder is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current migraine disorder manifested from an injury during a period of ACDUTRA or INADUCTRA while in the Army Reserves from September 1981 to April 2000. Service connection is also granted for low back disability and left hip disability (trochanteric bursitis).

The Veteran's chronic headaches were rated at 30% from June 24, 2009 to September 7, 2016 and increased to 50% thereafter. The Board granted a maximum schedular rating of 50% for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

Service connection is granted for a headache disability, back disability (DJD, DDD, osteoarthritis/osteoarthrosis, and IVDS), and bilateral foot disability.,The Veteran's headaches began during service in Vietnam. The Board found the evidence at least in relative equipoise that the current diagnosis of chronic headaches had its onset during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's cold sores, headaches, right eye dryness, mydriasis, photophobia, glaucoma (including open angle), floaters in the right eye, and night blindness are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on their direct relationship to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches are etiologically related to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder, granting service connection for this condition.