Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for left eye disability, headaches, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disorder and headaches, as additional development is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected headaches associated with allergic rhinitis. The Veteran needs a new examination to determine the current severity and frequency of her symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 30, 2016 due to insufficient evidence regarding his employment history and inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was denied as there is no persuasive evidence that the condition began during active service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Service connection for a skin disorder (tinea cruris) was also denied due to lack of persuasive evidence showing the condition began during active service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Veteran's current diagnosis of tinea cruris is attributed to post-service factors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to procedural issues and new evidence that was not considered in the previous decision.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The issues of service connection for headache, right ankle, left ankle, back, and bilateral foot disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted as of January 27, 2014. The decision was based on his service-connected disabilities and the fact that he has been unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to these conditions.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for VA examinations and medical nexus opinions, including those related to sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, low back condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatica), residuals of a shoulder injury, and migraine headaches. The claims are being returned for further evaluation.

The Veteran's ingrown toenail of the right big toe is currently rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent each, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected headache disorder is granted, and his PTSD is granted with a disability rating of 50 percent prior to June 2016 and 70 percent thereafter. The initial ratings for shin fractures and bilateral hearing loss are also granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, nerve damage of the left lower extremity, right upper extremity radiculopathy associated with residuals of a neck injury, and headache disability are all granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.

Service connection is granted for right rotator cuff tendinosis, with partial tears of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and subscapularis muscles.,Service connection is granted for migraine headaches secondary to service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).,Service connection is granted for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine secondary to service-connected left hip replacement.,The claim for service connection for a left knee condition remains on appeal.

The Veteran's left elbow disorder has been granted service connection, as it is related to his period of active service. The Board found that the Veteran experienced functional impairment due to continuous elbow pain.,The Veteran's sleep apnea and headache disorders have been remanded for further evaluation, as there are conflicting opinions regarding their onset during service or their relation to environmental exposures.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his right and left ankle disabilities. The issues of whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for a right eye injury, service connection for diabetes mellitus, and entitlement to increased ratings for knee and migraine headaches are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a thyroid disability, headache disability, and high blood pressure due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to a procedural deficiency in the higher-level review process.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated at the maximum schedular disability rating of 50 percent since July 12, 2010. Additionally, from July 12, 2010, a TDIU has also been granted due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including kidney disorder, migraine headaches, depression, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (low back pain), have been remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection has been granted for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is dismissed because he withdrew his appeal.