Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma, migraine headaches, chronic sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been granted service connection. However, the initial ratings for asthma, migraine headaches, chronic sinusitis, and GERD are being remanded due to lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus and unspecified anxiety disorder.,The Veteran's joint pain is denied because it is caused by degenerative arthritis, not an undiagnosed illness or MUCMI.

The Veteran's migraine headaches disability is now rated at 50 percent, the maximum rating available under the rating schedule for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's PTSD had a factually ascertainable increase in disability as of December 30, 2015. The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD effective from that date. Service connection was denied for a cervical spine/neck disorder and remanded for further examination and opinion regarding migraine headaches, herpes simplex virus, obstructive sleep apnea, and TDIU.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's migraines do not warrant a compensable rating and his TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with his migraine disability. The case is being remanded for further evaluation of his migraines, including whether they meet the criteria for prostrating attacks.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety is granted as service-connected.,The right knee disability is not secondary to the service-connected left knee disability and thus denied.,An effective date of September 26, 2017, for a 30 percent rating for cluster headaches is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are granted a 50 percent initial evaluation, but no higher, throughout the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, back scar, and cervical spine disability prior to October 23, 2018. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to comply with previous remands regarding verification of herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again after additional development is completed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches and PTSD due to the need for updated VA examinations to assess their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination regarding his claimed conditions related to toxic exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches. The case of left foot disorder is remanded due to insufficient analysis.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to March 3, 2018. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to a TDIU from March 3, 2018 for referral to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, effective June 26, 2020. The other conditions and issues were either denied or had their ratings unchanged.

The Board has remanded the claims for PTSD and MDD, as well as headaches. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to incomplete employment history.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with traumatic brain injury and migraine headaches have been granted increased ratings, with the depressive disorder receiving a 50 percent rating and the migraines receiving a 30 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee conditions, but has remanded the claims for respiratory condition, acquired psychiatric condition, headaches, and bladder condition due to lack of VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for DDD of the lumbar spine and cervical spine due to unresolved medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions including gastrointestinal, skin, sinusitis, rhinitis, headache, and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete medical opinions in the November 2022 VA examination reports. The issues are being returned for further clarification of the etiology of these conditions.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, diverticulitis, deep vein thrombosis as secondary to diverticulitis, pulmonary embolism as secondary to diverticulitis, headaches, and sleep apnea.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety) remains under consideration.