Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to various disabilities, including tinnitus, shoulder and knee conditions, vertigo, migraines, GERD, ED, and hearing loss. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for several disabilities that are secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a left sciatic nerve condition is denied due to lack of evidence of current disability and no medical nexus found.,Service connection for headaches is remanded due to insufficient opinion regarding causation or aggravation by medication.,Service connection for allergy conditions is remanded due to insufficient opinion regarding onset in service or relation to service.,Service connection for a left knee condition is remanded due to insufficient opinion regarding proximate cause and/or aggravation by service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tension headaches are found to be related to his service-connected PTSD and tinnitus, thus service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for headaches due to inadequate medical opinion regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was not shown to be related to service or her sarcoidosis of the lungs, and is denied.,The Veteran's migraine headache disability did not manifest during service or within one year after separation from service, and is denied.

The appeal of the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) is dismissed as it was not validly opted-in to the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system and remains pending in the Legacy system.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and tension headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, and service connection is granted for a low back disorder, bilateral pes planus, but RLE and LLE radiculopathy are denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a TBI, including headaches, tinnitus, and vertigo, is granted as the evidence supports that he suffered a TBI during service and continues to have related disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for traumatic brain injury, cervical spine injury, thoracic spine injury (claimed as low back injury), headaches, right knee pain, and right hip condition due to their docketing under the AMA system. The claims continue to reside in the legacy system.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes, congestive heart failure, renal kidney failure, hypertension, flat feet, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and alcohol use disorder), stomach ulcers, hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraines. The reasons for remand include a lack of evidence regarding exposure to chemicals in service, the need to verify in-service stressors, and incomplete records from Dr. P. Weaver.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service records and potential exposure during service. The Veteran's low back disability, sciatica, and sleep apnea are being examined again to determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to missing records and eligibility determinations.

The Veteran's service connection for headaches as secondary to his service-connected depression is granted. The case of the low back disability remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequacies in previous medical opinions and requires additional clarification regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's migraine headaches.

The Veteran's current headaches are caused by his service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, and the Board has granted service connection for headaches on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of headaches, left shoulder pain, and sleep apnea have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board has determined that this evidence is sufficient to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he maintains full-time employment throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided in March and August 2023 are inadequate to address all of the issues raised by the Veteran's representative. The Board is therefore remanding the case for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's migraines are related to service, and the Board has granted his claim for service connection.