Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including heart disease, hypertension, prostate disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, and orthopedic disabilities.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for a low back condition or migraine headaches, as the Veteran's conditions were not shown to have begun during active service and are not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection is being remanded for further review on these issues.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions obtained in October 2022 are inadequate and not responsive to the remand requests. The claims for service connection for chronic multiple melanomas and chronic headaches have been recharacterized as service connection for a skin condition and both claims must be remanded for an adequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for avitaminosis, also claimed as weight loss, has been dismissed. The claims for service connection for various disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional development of his service records and outpatient treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions and the need for a new VA opinion considering all evidence, including the Veteran's lay statements.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development and consideration. The Veteran's lumbar lordosis claim is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination, while her migraines rating remains on appeal as no Statement of the Case has been issued.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU and did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of January 25, 2012, and as of September 22, 2016. The Board granted the TDIU during this period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's headache disability. The claim will be returned for further development and an adequate opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, erectile dysfunction (ED), and bladder dysfunction and urinary incontinence secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus, anxiety disorder, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence to support a secondary service connection theory.

The Board has denied service connection for a lower back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, head laceration (also claimed as head trauma), and headaches. The reasons provided include the lack of evidence showing that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,Service records do not show any complaints or treatment related to these conditions during active duty. The Veteran's current symptoms are attributed to various incidents outside of his military service, such as motor vehicle accidents.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for migraine headaches has been dismissed. The Board also granted a TDIU prior to April 28, 2016, based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims of service connection for headaches, GERD, IBS, pterygium, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left shoulder disabilities. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including higher ratings for depression with anxiety disorder and TBI, as well as propriety of reduction in right shoulder and headache ratings. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further examination and consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and headache disorder, finding that there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after his military service. The Board also found that any current symptoms are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches, both secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 7, 2009 for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic headaches associated with a TBI was denied as there is no basis to assign such an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for headaches due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's headache disorder is aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability.