Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurological condition, including headaches associated with his mental health condition. The evidence did not support a finding that the condition was incurred in or related to active service.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are rated at a 70 percent disability rating since September 26, 2009.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 50 percent disability rating since September 26, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence in several areas, including his eye and vision disability, PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, headache disability, and hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and headaches, finding that the earliest possible effective date is October 17, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury other than migraine headaches was denied as there is no current disability related to such injuries. The Veteran's thoracolumbar DDD was remanded due to the need for further development and evaluation.

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are rated at a 30 percent rating, effective August 26, 2018. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding service connection for a bilateral hand disorder, higher ratings for the left elbow disability and PTSD, and an increase rating period for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines (also claimed as headaches) is being remanded due to a lack of an addendum opinion addressing the relationship between his service-connected tinnitus and the claimed migraines.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to issues with character of discharge and other medical conditions. The specific reasons will be addressed by the AOJ in their further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations. The issues of service connection are now pending and will be addressed by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for benign paroxysmal vertigo as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to service-connected tinnitus due to a failure to obtain an adequate aggravation opinion prior to the February 2020 SOC.

The Veteran's endometriosis with pelvic adhesions and tension headaches have not been rated appropriately, and the Board has ordered remand to obtain updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a separate evaluation of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is denied. The Board found that the criteria for such an earlier effective date are not met due to the revised Diagnostic Code 8045 becoming effective on October 23, 2008.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The claims for PTSD, left shoulder condition, left hip injury, migraine headaches, and gynecologic fibroid cysts are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches were incurred during his service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for VA examinations and additional evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, hypertension, and migraine headaches due to the evidence showing a current disability and in-service incurrence of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including headaches (migraines), neurological signs and symptoms, psychiatric disability, hip disabilities, knee disabilities, plantar fasciitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hemorrhoids, obstructive sleep apnea, fatigue, hypertension, glaucoma, and optic atrophy have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims during his March 2021 Board hearing.,The appeals were withdrawn by the Veteran in writing prior to the promulgation of a decision by the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic headaches are granted a 50 percent disability rating prior to October 4, 2021. The issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities and TBI residuals remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, and a 20% rating is assigned effective from the date of the decision.,Secondary service connection for GERD and headache disability are both granted. The Veteran's lumbar strain receives a 20% rating effective February 6, 2020, while his cervical strain remains at a 10% rating.,The Veteran's lumbar strain is rated as 20%, with the highest possible rating for this condition.