Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the issue of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs assistance with daily activities, but a VA examination is required to determine if this need is solely due to her service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current headaches are related to his service, specifically a bar fight where he was hit on the head and lost consciousness in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the submission of new evidence. The claims on appeal include a request for an increased rating for headaches, service connection for a back disability secondary to TBI, and a TDIU determination.

The Board has remanded the claims for earlier effective dates due to incomplete records, specifically a December 2010 document and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for a restoration of a 30 percent rating for migraines, effective September 1, 2018, was withdrawn by the Veteran in April 2020. As a result, the claim is dismissed.

The Veteran's heart condition, seizures, bilateral eye disabilities (right and left), and migraines were not found to be related to his service.,However, the Veteran was granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, low back disorder, headaches, diverticulitis, and bilateral restless leg syndrome due to insufficient evidence in the May 2012 VA examinations. The Veteran's claims are also remanded for new VA examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin and headache disabilities have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to July 8, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for fatigue, headaches, neurological problems, OSA, cardiovascular symptoms, skin disability, and respiratory disorder due to unclear etiology and potential secondary service connection issues.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the Veteran's hearing loss, migraine headaches, PTSD, and left hip disability. The effective date of service connection remains unresolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right great toe injury, lung condition (to include COPD), and chronic headaches.,There were no findings regarding exposure basis or presumption. The appeal was not about service connection to the PACT Act, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War, or any other specific exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not by themselves cause him to require aid and assistance in accomplishing the activities of daily living and render him unable to protect himself from the hazards and dangers of his daily environment. Therefore, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and a need for further development, including scheduling another VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar strain, headaches (claimed as PTSD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and insufficient examination reports. The claims will be reviewed again with additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and migraine headaches has been granted. The separate rating for hypertension was properly discontinued due to CUE in the January 2013 rating decision. An earlier effective date of April 13, 2016, is granted for service connection for renal failure with hypertension.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's headaches, including as secondary to his service-connected MDD, should be remanded for further development and an adequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's initial rating for TBI residuals and migraine headaches was increased from 10 percent to 0 percent, effective October 12, 2022. The reduction of the rating is being remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions prevent him from dressing, undressing, bathing, grooming himself without assistance and requires care to protect him from daily hazards. The Board finds that SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another is warranted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a headache disability as secondary to his now-service-connected sleep apnea. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported symptoms during service, which were consistent with current diagnoses of sleep apnea and headaches.