Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran's migraine and tension headaches are related to her service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's hysterectomy and migraine headaches are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a gall bladder condition, gastroenteritis, stomach condition, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for Barrett's esophagus condition, breathing condition, and migraine condition are remanded due to inadequate examination opinions.

The Veteran's benign fibrous dysplasia is currently rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's hypertension requires continuous medication for control and has not been manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more.,The Veteran's bilateral subarachnoid hemorrhage is currently rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is rated at 30 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at 10 percent, but no higher. Service connection for shortness of breath on exertion has been dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome. The claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, headaches, and sleep apnea are remanded due to incomplete personnel records.

The Board has identified an AOJ error in reducing, severing, and discontinuing the Veteran's VA compensation benefits due to 'fraud' under a regulation that is not applicable to his claims. The issues are remanded for providing a summary of the relevant regulations and readjudicating the cases.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and sleep apnea, have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since September 30, 2020. As of that date, the Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and insomnia), headaches, traumatic brain injury, obstructive sleep apnea, knee disorders, foot disorders, ankle disorders, elbow disorders, shoulder disorders, hip disorders, hand disorders, wrist disorders, lumbar spine disorders, shin disorders, cold injury disorders, upper extremity cold injury disorders. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis for these conditions during service or within one year of discharge and thus could not establish service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of any claimed foot, hip, knee, or lower back conditions. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and chronic headache disability (tension headaches) have been denied as there is no link to military service.,The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for varicose veins, sleep apnea, and headaches due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claims are not yet decided.

The Board has denied service connection for a right eye cornea scar and dismissed the claim of service connection for headaches due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions due to an administrative error in docketing.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for migraines due to potential exposure to burn pits during service. The Veteran's TERA status and the nature of his migraines need further examination by a VA clinician.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed as the VA Form 10182 was not timely filed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a headache disorder, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and left foot disability have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.,There is also no evidence of arthritis in the left knee, ankle, or foot within one year after discharge from active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for PTSD, headaches and migraine headaches, hypertension, and sleep disability due to potential secondary service connection.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability. Other claims for various conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes, chronic headaches (to include as secondary to PTSD), and TBI has been granted. The Veteran is also granted a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for his PTSD.