Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his employment throughout the appellate period was considered 'substantially gainful' and thus he did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions provided in previous examinations and evaluations. The issues include psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, headaches (including as a residual of TBI), digestive disability, and respiratory disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease as proximately due to his service-connected hypertension. The issue of service connection for migraines, which is currently remanded, will be addressed separately.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms, and thus could not establish service connection. For migraine headaches, the case is remanded due to incomplete records and need for a new VA examination. TDIU claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for mitral valve prolapse and service connection for migraine headaches are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, including migraine headaches, finding that these conditions first manifested during active service and are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The right eye disability claim is pending, while the other issues are on hold until further examination can be conducted.

The Veteran's right knee DJD was rated at 10 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's migraine headaches were not found to meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is denied. The claims for service connection for a right shoulder injury and migraines are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and migraine headaches, with the latter being secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his military service.

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The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other specified trauma, was dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement. The claim for tinnitus was granted. The claims for thyroid disability and migraine disability are remanded.

The Board restored a 30 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, effective October 1, 2019. The reduction from 30 to 0 percent was found improper due to insufficient evidence of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Board has granted the readjudication of the claims for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Headaches as a result of TBI, finding that new evidence supports these claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and a migraine disability. The claims are now remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, and headache. Service connection is now established for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU and SMC is remanded due to the need for further development, including a review of her employment history since March 2018 and an extraschedular evaluation of whether her service-connected migraine headaches alone prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for acquired psychiatric disorder and migraines, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right ankle condition, gall bladder condition, migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD) due to incomplete information and need for further examination or evidence.