Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral knee conditions and shin splints. The Veteran will be provided VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for head trauma with blurred vision and headaches, tinnitus as secondary to head trauma, bilateral hearing loss as secondary to head trauma, and congenital deformities of the feet have been reopened. Service connection is granted for head trauma with blurred vision and headaches and bilateral hearing loss as secondary to head trauma. The claim for tinnitus has not yet been decided due to a remand.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's income history and treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cataracts, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, multiple muscle and joint disorder, headaches, and sleep apnea are granted due to exposure to burn pits during his Southwest Asia service in the Gulf War.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment, and the Board finds that an extraschedular TDIU is not warranted.

The Veteran's left eye uveitis was rated as noncompensable, and his headaches were granted secondary to service-connected left eye uveitis.,The VA examiner noted the Veteran's headaches were possibly caused by extreme photophobia associated with his service-connected left eye uveitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bilateral eye disabilities, a kidney cyst, left and right foot disabilities. The issues are related to aggravation of these conditions by other service-connected disabilities or due to exposure to burn pits and smoke during service in Saudi Arabia.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's migraine headaches pre-existed his service and if they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder and depression, is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and etiology opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disorder, sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, migraine headache disorder secondary to PTSD, gastroesophageal disorder (GERD) secondary to PTSD, and hemorrhoids secondary to IBS. The issues are all related to secondary service connection.

The Veteran's cluster headaches are currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, which is the highest available. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.,For the period prior to January 11, 2022, the Veteran's residual scar of the left ear was rated as noncompensable due to its size and lack of characteristics of disfigurement or other disabling effects. As of January 11, 2022, a rating of 10 percent is granted for this condition.

The Veteran's residuals of a head injury (including memory loss and dizziness) are granted as service-connected.,Before November 02, 2019, the Veteran's migraine headaches were not rated higher than noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches and sleep apnea due to incomplete opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran may be entitled to service connection based on ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA, but this needs to be confirmed by the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for dizziness, finding that the Veteran's dizziness is caused by medication taken to treat his service-connected PTSD. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the in-service injury and continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claim for an initial compensable rating for posttraumatic headaches due to additional relevant evidence being associated with the file after the issuance of the April 2019 statement of the case. The AOJ must consider this new evidence and issue a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, sinusitis, and headaches due to additional development being needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome (left upper extremity) as secondary to multiple sclerosis, and initial evaluations for migraines including migraine variants and anxiety disorder have been denied. The Veteran was granted an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for his anxiety disorder prior to November 8, 2017, and a higher evaluation from that date.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance from September 20, 2017. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause him to be at a high risk of falling due to numbness in his hands and feet.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for TBI, headaches, right knee strain, and left knee strain were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of impairment more nearly approximating a 10% or higher rating for any condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to include obtaining a VA examination and readjudication of her claims.