Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all listed conditions, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various health conditions as the appellant requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, finding that there was no evidence of in-service headaches and insufficient competent evidence to establish a relationship between current migraines and service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including cluster headaches and knee disabilities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to outstanding treatment records from non-VA providers through VA's Community Care Network.

The Board has granted service connection for a right and left knee disability, as well as sleep apnea and hypertension. The heart disability claim was denied.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, sleep apnea, and hypertension based on in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection for sinusitis is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to fine particulate matter (burn pits) during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including headaches, back pain, and knee disability, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU from March 6, 2015, but the case is remanded for further evaluation of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a disorder manifested by bilateral ear pain, dizziness, and a headache disorder, all secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and service or any other basis.

The Veteran's claimed foot, knee, shoulder, and lumbar spine disabilities are not service-connected as they do not have a direct link to his military service. The headaches also lack a service connection due to the absence of evidence linking them to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current headaches are related to his service, including a documented in-service head injury. The Veteran needs to provide medical records and undergo a VA examination to determine if he has a headache disability that is related to his service.

The Board has granted service connection for cluster headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of nagging headache pain during service have continued since separation and meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for migraine headaches, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his representative.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking his current headaches to his military service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's headaches, which he claims are related to head injuries sustained during service, have been granted as service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss have been rated at the maximum available under VA regulations, so no increased ratings are granted.,Service connection for diabetes is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the condition and service or toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).,Service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, hypertension, and alcohol abuse secondary to diabetes is also remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's claims are not granted because the medical evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the remaining issues on appeal, including obtaining service treatment and personnel records from the Veteran's National Guard service.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted due to his service-connected migraine headaches, and he also receives SMC for the period beginning on December 2, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and requests for additional development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for service-connected ocular migraines is granted effective January 29, 2013. The Board denied the prior TDIU claims due to lack of a single disability rated at 60% or more and found that he was not unemployable based on his service-connected disabilities.