Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities, particularly knee, back, shoulder, heart, TBI, and headache. Additional development is required including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted a TDIU from March 3, 2015 to June 6, 2022. The claim for an increased rating for left knee chondromalacia is remanded due to the lack of range of motion testing.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim for further development due to incomplete information and appeals of other service connection claims. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70%.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and the RO must reassess his TDIU claim for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity and migraine headaches, finding that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has severed service connection for TBI, migraine headaches, and partial loss of taste due to CUE. Service connection for cervical herniated disc remains intact.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for residuals of TBI was denied. The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted a 50% disability rating, but the ratings for painful scar of the right great toe and residual scar of the right great toe remain at non-compensable levels.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and migraines.

The Veteran's right hand index finger disability is granted a 10 percent rating. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is granted a 20 percent rating from December 1, 2015 to April 25, 2017 and denied any higher rating thereafter. The Veteran's tension headaches are granted the highest available schedular rating of 30 percent. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is denied any higher rating. The Veteran's service-connected digestive conditions are denied any higher rating. The Veteran's left ankle disability is denied any higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's tinnitus is caused or aggravated by his service-connected migraines and/or TBI. The effective date of any award will be determined after the examination results are available.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and headaches (claimed as head injury).,Service connection was also denied for chronic fatigue, benign prostate hyperplasia (claimed as residuals of prostate cancer), erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea. The Board found that there is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's period of service.,The Board remanded the cases for further development regarding service connection for a left ankle disability.

The Veteran's ratings for migraine headaches and TBI residuals were restored to their original levels, effective November 1, 2018.,A rating in excess of 40 percent for TBI residuals is remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic headache disability, including as due to exposure to environmental hazards and/or as an undiagnosed illness. The claims are being remanded for further development and adjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as a failure to establish a current disability or link between in-service stressors and current symptoms. Service connection was also not granted for asbestos exposure and respiratory disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the failure to obtain VA examinations and private medical records. The issues include sleep disorders, tinnitus, headaches, breathing conditions, digestive conditions, and psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding higher ratings for posttraumatic headaches, a lumbar sprain, left knee patellofemoral syndrome and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome as well as for entitlement to service connection for temporomandibular joint pain.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings in hypertension, tension headaches, and right shoulder disability require additional evidence due to his assertions of worsening symptoms since previous examinations. The Board has therefore ordered remand for further evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for several issues, including increased disability ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The left knee issue requires an SOC due to non-compliance with prior Board directives. The thoracic and lumbar spondylosis, adjustment disorder, TBI, and post-traumatic headaches issues require additional examinations and assessments.

The Veteran's TBI and related headaches are granted as service-connected.,A cervical spine condition is also granted as service-connected, likely due to an in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's May 2019 VA Form 10182 constitutes a valid and timely legacy appeal for service connection for left ankle disability, OSA, TMJ, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a headache disability. The case is REMANDED to issue a Statement of the Case on these issues.