Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, tension headaches, right knee strain, and cervical strain are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is also established for rhinitis and left wrist sprain. Groin rash was denied.

The Board has denied a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss disability and has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for headache, neck, right shoulder, and right hand disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee disorders, migraines, and upper extremity scars are related to service. However, due to inadequate VA examinations, the Board is remanding these claims for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for headaches was withdrawn during the July 2022 Board hearing, resulting in its dismissal.,Service connection for sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's weight gain due to his back disability and associated radiculopathy may have contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder and migraine headaches have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment since January 21, 2017. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective January 21, 2017.

Service connection for a left leg condition, including as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability, is denied.,Service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to the service-connected tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's initial 30 percent rating for GERD is granted, and his 50 percent rating for migraine headaches is continued.,PTSD with alcohol/cannabis use disorder and TBI are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's migraines prior to August 12, 2016 are now rated at 30 percent.,Effective from March 4, 2016, the Veteran is granted a 30 percent rating for his migraines.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider all theories of service connection.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 26, 2018 for the award of a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches based on the Veteran's consistent reports of frequent and severe migraines that interfere with work, social, and family life.

The Veteran's service connection claim for TBI residuals, including headaches and benign positional vertigo, is granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced a TBI event during service which resulted in current TBI residuals.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for migraine and anxiety disorder as they have already been granted in previous rating decisions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease due to incomplete documentation of her medical records and a need to address her lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions including worms, hemorrhoids, joint pain (to include arthritis), knee conditions, shoulder conditions, wrist conditions, hand conditions, eating disorders, migraines, cardiovascular condition, digestive condition, dizziness, and ear condition have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service occurrence for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's migraine headaches are not related to his service, including as secondary to a service-connected cervical strain. The evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between the Veteran's migraines and his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. The appeal for tinnitus, left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, left foot disorder, and right foot disorder has been withdrawn by the Veteran.,Service connection for IBS was denied prior to February 28, 2018, but a petition to reopen this claim was granted in December 2018. The effective date of service connection for IBS is not earlier than February 28, 2018.

The Board has determined that additional VA clinical documentation should be reviewed and the service connection claims for various disabilities should be remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, migraine headaches, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for erectile dysfunction as there is no competent evidence of a causal relationship with his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's migraine headaches improved such that his ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work improved, leading to a reduction from 30% to noncompensable effective July 1, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 70 percent from June 5, 2018.,A 50 percent rating for sleep apnea has been granted since June 5, 2018.