Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, recurrent ear infections, and migraine headaches is granted. The earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for migraine headaches is set at April 26, 2017. The Veteran's increased disability rating claim for migraine headaches is remanded.

The Veteran's migraines are related to a head injury in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The vision loss disorder is also related to service, specifically the brain tumor that developed after the head injury in service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted service connection.,Prior to December 5, 2019, the Veteran's tension and vascular headaches are not entitled to a compensable rating. Beginning December 5, 2019, they are rated at 30 percent.,An effective date of July 21, 2017 is granted for the grant of service connection for tension and vascular headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with TBI and lumbar strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective June 5, 2009.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for bruxism (grinding of teeth) and temporomandibular joint disorder have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, has not resulted in a compensable rating due to insufficient evidence of current disability.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated as 30 percent since February 1, 2018. The Board has found that the Veteran's headaches are characterized by prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for her foot conditions and acquired psychiatric condition. She also seeks an increased rating for her headaches.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are very frequent, completely prostrating, and consistent with prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The Board has granted a disability rating of 50 percent for his MUCMI manifested by migraine headaches prior to March 5, 2018.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for a migraine disorder, digestive or esophageal disorder (initially claimed as 'reflux esophagitis'), and heart disorder are remanded due to new evidence of diagnoses and need for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraines, bilateral flat feet, hallux valgus, and endometriosis. Her combined rating of 90% meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are not related to his service, as the evidence does not support a finding that they began during service or are otherwise linked to an in-service injury or disease.,Bilateral hearing loss is not shown to have had its onset during service or within one year of separation from active duty. The Veteran did not report any hearing issues during service and there is no evidence of noise exposure related to his military duties.

The Veteran's cervical strain is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).,Right sided otalgia does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation as there is no evidence of chronic suppurative otitis media, mastoiditis, cholesteatoma, or aural polyps.,Migraine headaches do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under DC 8100.,Squamous cell carcinoma with lymphedema in remission does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation as it is not comparable to systemic malignancies.,Neck neuralgia does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation as it has not manifested as moderate incomplete paralysis.,Loss of sense of smell and taste do not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation as they are only partial loss without evidence of complete loss.,TDIU is denied due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether preexisting conditions were aggravated by service or related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, serous otitis media, and several other conditions were denied. The appeals for increased ratings for hearing loss and scars, as well as the effective date claims for serous otitis media and scars were also denied.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 50 percent for the service-connected posttraumatic migraine headaches prior to February 7, 2020, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximate very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional records related to his headaches. The effective date of service connection remains unclear as no prior claim was found before May 6, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a low back disability was denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date available is May 28, 2015.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of migraine headaches was reopened and remanded due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial in August 2015.

The VA Form 9 submitted in February 2018 was not received within the required time frame, leading to a denial of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD, migraines, left knee strain, and OSA. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service complaints or injuries.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has remanded them due to insufficient evidence. The claims are now pending again.