Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran's tension headaches are found to be related to his military service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran was unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities from July 17, 2013, to October 7, 2014. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has remanded the cases for further review due to a failure to provide notice of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's claim for a 50 percent rating for service-connected migraine headaches, effective January 26, 2017, is granted. The claim for TDIU based on the combination of migraine headaches and sleep apnea is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection of migraine headaches, finding that there was no claim filed prior to January 14, 2017.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for an updated opinion on the combined functional impact of his service-connected disabilities prior to October 2, 2019. Additionally, updated SSA records are needed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional audiogram results and updated VA examinations. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tension headaches, and TBI are all being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the other issues due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable and subsequent higher ratings for her chronic headache disability and TMJ dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting new examinations.,The Veteran's appeal of her initial rating for TMJ dysfunction is also being remanded as there appears to be a lack of adequate information in prior examination reports.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and missing treatment records. The Veteran's headache disability, which is claimed as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disabilities (depression and insomnia), needs further clarification.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches is granted as the condition began during active duty and has been continuous since separation. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of in-service onset, continuity of symptoms post-service, and meets the requirements for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, but no higher.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee and ankle disabilities as secondary to her left knee disability, as well as a claim for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current migraine headache disability is related to service or an in-service injury. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the migraine headache claim.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent from April 18, 2022 and granted an earlier effective date of April 18, 2022.,From December 18, 2017, the Veteran is entitled to SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, with the effective date being January 14, 2021.,The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 12, 2021, and a rating in excess of 40 percent from that date onwards are both remanded.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, is granted.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and migraine headaches are also granted as secondary to service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's initial and compensable ratings for TBI are being remanded due to the need for clarification of residuals not already accounted for by separate ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence linking heart disease and headaches to service. The Veteran's eligibility for specially adapted housing is denied as he does not meet the criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of recent treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss is denied as there is no separate and distinct condition found prior to January 10, 2022. From that date onward, the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.,The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to January 18, 2012 was denied because his combined disability rating did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU.