Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his claims for increased rating for left knee bursitis and service connection for sleep apnea, GERD, headaches, and sacral radiculopathy. The Board dismissed these claims as the appellant has withdrawn them.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disorder, dizziness, migraine disorder, and brain disorder (claimed as white fluid around brain cells with increased lesions) because the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active-duty service.,Service connection was also denied on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development and lack of compliance with previous remands. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, peripheral neuropathy, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and headache disorder are all being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and readjudication due to new evidence submitted since the May 2018 SOC, as well as the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for right maxillary sinusitis secondary to fracture zygoma are denied as the earliest effective date is August 1, 2016.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for all issues related to service connection and other claims, resulting in the dismissal of these cases.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for status-post left maxillary sinusotomy with headaches and service connection for sleep apnea are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and no higher.,The Veteran has multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities that do not meet the criteria for a separate 10% disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a head injury, migraine headaches, and COPD are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations and verification of in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, but granted service connection for a left shoulder disability (including fibrosarcoma) and a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's headache disability claim was not addressed as it is considered part of the same appeal.,There is no clear evidence that any of these disabilities are related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound due to lack of need for regular aid and assistance, permanent bedridden status, or inability to care for oneself.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current headaches and his in-service tinnitus or any other condition. The Board also found that the time difference of 44 years since he filed his original headache claim does not establish continuity of symptomology.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches are being remanded due to new VA treatment records suggesting a worsening of symptoms, and the last examination was more than five years ago.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions were denied effective dates prior to April 23, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tension headaches have rendered him unemployable, warranting a 40% disability rating from May 6, 2019 onwards.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical radiculopathy, bilateral hip/leg arthritis condition, headaches, and lung condition. The neck condition claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the cervical radiculopathy claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines and insomnia, finding that additional development is needed to address the medical opinions provided by the VA examiners.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis disability is rated at 50 percent from June 3, 2020. The appeal for a greater than 10 percent rating prior to that date was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for traumatic sphenoid encephalocele and headaches are granted. The claim for hepatitis C is remanded.,The Veteran's service connection claims for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and surgically severed facial nerve are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of headaches and fibromyalgia for further development due to lack of updated medical records and need for new examinations.