Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain VA medical opinions regarding the impact of PTSD and migraines on the Veteran's ability to perform office type work from July 2005 to July 2011.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, degenerative arthritis and IVDS, LLE and RLE sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and LLE and RLE femoral nerve radiculopathy are granted with specific ratings. The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left foot hallux valgus, and lumbar spine scar is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a headache condition, left ankle condition, left heel spur, pes planus, and right heel spur were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for migraines, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder due to the Veteran's representative withdrawing all pending issues on appeal before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and migraines as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals for severance of service connection for his right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as remanded the issues regarding his headache disability (secondary to TBI) and back disability.

The appeal for service connection for headaches is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury and other conditions such as narcolepsy, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic sinusitis, tension headaches, right shoulder strain with shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder strain with shoulder impingement syndrome, lower back strain, cervical neck strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, right 4th metacarpal fracture with scar, allergic rhinitis, shin splints of the left and right lower extremities, right eye strabismus, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the appeal period prior to August 13, 2019.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 50 percent disability rating, the highest possible under VA regulations.

The Veteran's PTSD, migraines, and TBI residuals are rated at 70 percent from March 8, 2016. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU effective from March 8, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI residuals, OSA, and headaches are remanded due to the failure to appear at scheduled VA examinations. The SMC claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to radiation during service, specifically in relation to his migraine headaches.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error that occurred prior to the November 2020 rating decision. Specifically, the VA examiner did not consider whether the Veteran's hypertension aggravates his headaches for secondary service connection.

Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is granted.,Service connection for left hip disability and right hip disability are denied.

An initial disability rating of 30 percent for service-connected migraine headaches is granted. The appeal for service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Gulf War Syndrome-like disability, including irritable bowel syndrome and headaches, as well as her claim related to respiratory issues due to military vaccines, were denied. Her obstructive sleep apnea claim is considered outside the Board's appellate purview.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for a higher rating for headaches and has remanded the cases of PTSD with residuals of TBI and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of traumatic brain injury and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for cardiovascular conditions (hypertensive heart disease and sinus tachycardia) and gastrointestinal condition (irritable bowel syndrome) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as audiometric testing does not meet the criteria for a current disability.,The claim of service connection for chronic sinusitis, residuals of TBI, and headache disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's MDD symptoms prior to July 8, 2022 did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.,The Veteran was unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities (MDD and asthma) prior to July 8, 2022.