Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran's headaches, associated with residual of Rosai-Dorfman disease, are now rated at 50 percent from June 1, 2016 to August 8, 2022. The Veteran's hypothyroidism is still rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals for the issues of service connection for TBI and a disability evaluation for concussion headaches. The Board has dismissed these issues.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for chronic migraines, right great toe crush injury, bilateral hearing loss, and hemorrhoids before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has denied service connection for vision disability (blurred vision) and loss of weight. The claims for headache disorder, back disorder, sexual dysfunction, tremors, and balance problems are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,Service connection is not granted for any of the conditions listed above as there is insufficient evidence linking them to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings in various conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran requested their withdrawal prior to a Board decision.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for headaches, sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The Veteran's current chronic headache condition began in, and has continued since, active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's migraines are secondary to his service-connected varicose veins. The case will be returned for further development and an addendum VA opinion.

The Board's decision on the increased rating for migraine headaches is vacated and the legacy appeal is dismissed due to a timely filed post-supplemental statement of the case under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for anxiety disorder and depressive disorder is granted. The claims for PTSD and traumatic brain injury with headache disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's alcohol use disorder is granted on a secondary basis.,An effective date prior to April 29, 2014, for the award of service connection for sinus headaches has been denied.,For the appellate period prior to November 3, 2016, an initial compensable rating for sinus headaches was denied.,Beginning November 3, 2016, a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for sinus headaches is granted.,An initial disability rating of 30 percent but no higher for left foot drop is granted.,For the entire period on appeal, an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral Morton's neuroma and tinnitus are denied.,TDIU based solely on service-connected PDD is granted for the entire period on appeal.,Beginning November 3, 2016, SMC at the housebound rate is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the exception of those related to right hip disorder, left hip disorder, and left knee disorder. The headaches are considered a chronic disease under presumptive provisions due to their presence during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for recurrent headaches and TDIU due to additional development being needed, including obtaining standardized diaries of the Veteran's TMJ and headache symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a back disability, and headaches have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or any other qualifying chronic disability under the provisions for Persian Gulf War veterans. The claim for a back disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking the condition to active duty. The claim for headaches remains pending as well.

Service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and migraine headaches has been granted.,The claims of service connection for osteoarthritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and anemia have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, migraines, right elbow condition, lower back condition, and right knee condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA will need to provide additional examinations and obtain further medical opinions.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and a TDIU, which were previously pending at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hypertension.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability, rated at 20%, is not entitled to a higher rating due to the lack of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).,Prior to November 4, 2022, the Veteran's headaches are granted a noncompensable evaluation. Since then, he has been granted a 50% evaluation for very frequent prostrating attacks.,The Veteran is granted an initial 10% evaluation for urticaria throughout the appeal period.

The Board has found that the Veteran's hypertension did not begin during active service and is not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Veteran's polycystic ovarian disease (POD) was not diagnosed within one year of her discharge from service. The Veteran's migraine headaches with numbness of the arms and legs are also remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings for a headache disorder and PTSD have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to higher ratings.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.