Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 26, 2015 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities causing occupational impairment.

The Veteran's appeal of a compensable rating for migraines is being remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment records and the need for another VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tremors and muscle twitches, left ear hearing loss, allergies, eustachian tube dysfunction (claimed as equilibrium), right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraines are all denied.,Additional evidence is needed to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The TDIU claim is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The petition to reopen the back arthritis claim has been granted due to new evidence submitted since the last denial in January 2014.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, posttraumatic headaches, sleep apnea, cervical spine degenerative disc disease with neck sprain, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy.,The effective date for service connection of these conditions ranges from April 27, 2016 to September 20, 2017.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for migraine headaches and granted it, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support a relationship between his in-service migraines and his current condition.

The Veteran's claim for a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches prior to March 5, 2019, and a 50 percent rating thereafter is granted. The effective date of service connection for migraine headaches is set at July 31, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further examination and opinion regarding his service connection for TBI and headaches, as there are conflicting medical opinions in the file.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at 50% effective October 26, 2015. The rating for his TBI prior to February 27, 2020 is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received, allowing the Veteran's claim for service connection to be reopened. The claims for right elbow disability, left elbow disability, headaches, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity are all remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period July 28, 2018, to September 7, 2020 was denied as his migraine headaches disability did not render him unable to work.

Service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, and tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for hypertension, headache disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder has not been established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and headaches due to service connection. The VA is required to provide a VA examination and medical opinion considering the Veteran's participation in toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) during service.

The Veteran's initial rating for schizophrenia was denied, but he received a 50% rating for headaches. The effective dates for service connection were granted earlier than initially requested. SMC at the housebound rate was also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him incapable of securing and following a substantially gainful occupation as of May 1, 2018. Effective May 1, 2018, the Veteran is granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his failure to provide updated employment information, specifically by submitting a VA Form 21-8940. The evidence showed that he had service-connected disabilities but did not meet the criteria for TDIU as defined in the regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to deficiencies in previous VA medical opinions and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's headaches are productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50% disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral pes planus with arthritis, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, headaches, multiple sclerosis (MS), ischemic heart disease (IHD), and prostate disorder. The reasons given were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or in-service exposure.