Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disability and sleep apnea, finding that there is no clear evidence of continuity of symptoms since service and insufficient medical nexus to establish a link between current conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for migraine headaches was denied, and the issue of service connection for a right foot condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypothyroidism is granted due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The claim for service connection for migraine headaches is denied as there is no direct or presumptive evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a headache disorder, but denied service connection for fibromyalgia and hypertension. The decision is based on the Veteran's testimony and medical evidence showing that his symptoms began during active military service.

The Board granted a disability rating of 50 percent for migraines, finding that the Veteran's symptoms met the criteria for this rating due to very frequent and severe prostrating attacks.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lower back condition and chronic headaches are not service-connected. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death, as they do not survive his death.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine/tension headaches was granted. His initial compensable disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and his onychomycosis were both granted at a 10 percent level.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to procedural errors in the reduction of his disability rating.,Service connection is still pending for digestive problems, headaches, and blurred vision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to December 1, 2015. The Board found that the evidence was not in 'approximate balance' or 'nearly equal' with the evidence supporting his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, finding that the Veteran's consistent reports of headache onset during service and continued presence since then are credible. The exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is presumed, but not all eight diseases associated with this exposure have been diagnosed in the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and remanded the issue of service connection for a headache disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The Board will consider all issues when readjudicating these matters.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for a sinus disability and residuals of a broken nose, as these issues are inextricably intertwined with the claim for service connection for a sinus disability. The remand is due to an inadequate addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sinus disability was aggravated by his service-connected deviated septum.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and facial numbness.

The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.,The claim for service connection for headaches, right knee disability, and tinnitus has been reopened and granted to the extent of these issues.,The claim for service connection for a respiratory disability (lung damage) is denied due to lack of current diagnosis or functional impairment.,A rating higher than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine is remanded as no VA examination was conducted in conjunction with this claim.,Service connection for PTSD is remanded as the incident basis for the claim has not been corroborated.,The claims for service connection for a right hand disability and right wrist disability are remanded due to lack of evidence linking these disabilities to service.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for posttraumatic headaches from December 7, 2010 to October 17, 2016. The effective date of this decision is October 18, 2016. However, the claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU and SMC based on need for aid and attendance remains pending as it has been remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD, Headache Syndrome, Depressive Disorder, and Left Shoulder Post-Operative Tendon Tear with Degenerative Joint Disease are all granted as secondary to service-connected conditions. The effective date for these grants is January 29, 2015.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 10 percent rating. The Board finds the evidence reasonably shows that his migraines have characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months, corresponding to the criteria for at least a 10 percent rating under DC 8100. Other issues related to left hip disability, unspecified anxiety disorder and lumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and tinnitus did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 10, 2014.