Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and back disorder should be remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on file.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is dismissed, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a migraine disability is remanded due to the inadequacy of the June 2022 VA examination and failure to report for a scheduled examination.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating for headaches, muscle pain, poikiloderma of Civatte, and sarcoidosis as the Veteran's representative withdrew all issues from the appeal prior to a decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder, recurrent, severe without psychotic features, cognitive impairment and with residuals of traumatic brain injury is granted a 70 percent disability rating. The Veteran's cluster headaches are granted a 30 percent disability rating for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches has been granted.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disorder and major depressive disorder have also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right foot disability, left foot disability, and erectile dysfunction have been denied. The claim for hypertension is being remanded for further development.,For the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right foot disability, left foot disability, and erectile dysfunction, as well as hypertension, the Board finds that additional evidence or examination may be needed to determine if these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches/migraine. The Veteran's current migraine headaches are related to his active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. However, the issue of service connection for hydrocephalus intravascular mass status post ventriculostomy (claimed as brain tumor) and scars (head, face, or neck) secondary to this condition remains pending and requires further development.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, left knee condition, right knee condition, back condition, and sleep apnea are all found to be etiologically linked to his active-duty service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's migraine headaches, bilateral knee conditions (left and right), and back condition.

The reduction in disability rating for persistent depressive disorder from 50% to 30% is not supported by the weight of evidence and a 50% disability rating is restored.,An effective date earlier than June 27, 2017, for the grant of service connection for persistent depressive disorder is denied.,Service connection for a low back disorder is granted.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to a low back disorder is granted.,Initial rating in excess of 50% for persistent depressive disorder prior to April 3, 2023, and in excess of 70% thereafter is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for hypertension is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for migraines is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted at a 10 percent rating from November 16, 2016. The claims for increased ratings of back strain and cervical strain are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of IBS and scars of the left lower extremity, residuals of sebaceous cyst removal, are being remanded due to insufficient development. The Board also finds that his claim for a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities is dismissed as he now has a combined rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral foot disorder, ankle disorder, headaches, and psychiatric disorder are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ must schedule VA examinations for the Veteran's claimed conditions and adjudicate his TDIU claim on the merits.

The Veteran's service connection claim for CFS is granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for chronic headaches due to inadequate examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date prior to December 28, 2017 for the award of service connection and secondary service connection for mental health, headaches, bilateral knee pain, and bilateral upper extremity pain conditions. The claims were first filed in August 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a separate headache disability is denied as her headaches are considered part of her existing service-connected sinusitis.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder does not meet the criteria for an increased rating, as it does not result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for migraine headaches is being remanded due to the need for a VA opinion regarding whether his current migraines are caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes, hypertension, or PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for PTSD, TMJ, tinnitus, and migraines. The earliest effective date assigned was May 30, 2016, for PTSD, TMJ, and tinnitus, and February 16, 2017, for migraines.

The Board's decision to dismiss the service connection claims was vacated due to a pending substitution claim by the appellant.