Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate VA examinations and need for additional evidence. The issues of radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, headaches secondary to cervical spine disability, and hernia are addressed in the Remand section.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches has been denied.,The Veteran is granted a TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's request to reopen a prior denial of service connection for migraine headaches has been granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, other than GAD and insomnia; migraine headaches; and tinea versicolor.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding COPD. The appeals to reopen service connection for headaches and hearing loss were granted, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches, exercise-induced asthma, lumbago with L3-L4 disc herniation, cervical spine strain post-fusion C5-C6 with disc bulging and stenosis, bilateral plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spurs left heel, noncompensable right ear hearing loss, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 20, 2021. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular TDIU during this period.

The Veteran's service-connected memory impairment, balance/gait issues, and multi-headache disorder are granted as the result of inservice traumatic brain injury (TBI). TDIU is also granted beginning November 1, 2014.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a headache disability, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for posttraumatic headaches and residuals of traumatic brain injury were denied because he failed to attend the scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left calf disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current left calf disability other than his already service-connected left lower extremity neuritis with aggravated leg cramps. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 18, 2011, was also denied due to the fact that it is not factually ascertainable he became unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during this period. His claim for TDIU based on multiple service-connected disabilities from July 18, 2011 onwards remains moot as his combined rating already meets the criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and an increased rating for PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for left scalp scar and remanded the service connection claim for headaches. The Veteran's headaches are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's psychiatric and TBI disability resulted in total occupational and social impairment for the period prior to January 3, 2022. The Board granted a 100 percent disability rating for this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now considered. The Board has granted service connection for OSA, GERD, headaches, sinusitis, rhinitis, and throat disorder.

The Veteran's migraines have not been manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month, and the symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's migraine headaches are related to service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD and visual field defects.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and traumatic brain injury, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his active service.

The Veteran's Meniere's disease and migraine headaches have been granted increased ratings, with the highest possible rating of 100 percent for each condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a rating of 50 percent, but no higher. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection is granted for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicides and/or disabilities. Service connection is also granted for GERD, migraine headaches, TBI, neck disability, and low back disability.

The Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits is being remanded due to unclear notice and duty-to-assist error. The matter will be evaluated under statutory criteria for need for supervision, protection, or instruction with clear reasons and bases.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disorder and migraines, finding no current diagnoses related to these conditions.