Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI residuals and headaches have been reopened.,The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for TBI residuals and headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was denied as the evidence did not support a link between his current condition and service or a service-connected disability.,The claims for increased ratings of low back and left shoulder disabilities were denied due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations without good cause. ,The request for an earlier effective date for the award of an increased rating for the left shoulder disability was also denied as there is no evidence of a factually ascertainable increase in symptoms within one year prior to the Veteran's intent to file.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions regarding the onset of various conditions during or as a result of military service.

The Veteran's asthma is presumed to be related to his exposure to fine particulate matter while serving in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War. Service connection for direct service connection for asthma prior to August 5, 2021 is remanded.,The Veteran's headache disability is remanded as it needs further examination and opinion regarding its relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches but remanded the secondary service connection claim for erectile dysfunction to the RO.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of radiculopathy, as well as for migraines secondary to tinnitus. Additional evidence was added since the last decision in December 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, an eye disability, and headaches with dizziness due to insufficient opinions regarding continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right foot pain, migraine headaches, bilateral ankle sprain, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The decision is based on the need for updated VA treatment records and examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for several issues, including initial compensable rating for atopic dermatitis and service connection for PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder and moderate alcohol use disorder, sleep disturbances, chronic headaches, keratitis/corneal ulcer, chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, enlarged cervical right side submandibular lymph node, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and muscle and joint pain (unspecified).

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for sinusitis was denied. The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disability was granted.,Service connection for post-concussive headaches was granted, but service connection for peripheral neuropathy of any extremity or sleep condition was not established.

The Board has remanded the claims for erectile dysfunction, back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, hypertension, bladder incontinence, and headaches due to insufficient rationale provided by the VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for jaw pain, gout, headaches, GERD, and tinnitus due to lack of sufficient evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and military service. The Veteran is competent to report observable symptoms during service and post-service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's headaches.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of right shoulder and right hand disabilities have been dismissed.,The reduction of the 30 percent rating for chronic sinusitis from June 2016 to noncompensable effective January 1, 2019 was not proper.

The Veteran's TBI is not associated with any residuals of cognitive, emotional/behavioral, or physical impairment that are already contemplated in separately assigned ratings.,Prior to March 24, 2022, the tension headaches did not result in characteristic prostrating attacks averaging at least one in two months. From March 24, 2022, they have not resulted in such attacks occurring on average once a month over several months.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of tuberculosis, chronic lumbar spine disorder, residuals of bilateral trench foot, and a chronic headache disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or continuity of symptoms. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of medical evidence supporting his assertions.

The Board has ordered the VA to remand these matters back for further development, including associating outstanding treatment records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the current severity of his tension headaches, inguinal hernia, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated as 50 percent disabling, effective from August 28, 2018. Prior to this date, the Veteran was denied a higher rating for his service-connected migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims for left foot disability, migraine headaches, hypertension, and stomach ulcers due to a lack of an adequate etiology opinion. The Veteran's current disabilities are being remanded for new VA examinations and medical opinions regarding whether they are related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache condition and a left hand injury are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is also being remanded.