Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions, as well as whether his sleep apnea is related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs) during service. The claims for higher evaluations and service connection are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral achilles tendon disorder, recurrent styes of the bilateral eyelids, and vision problems with headaches due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's initial 50 percent rating for migraine headaches associated with TBI is granted, effective August 27, 2015. The claim of an initial compensable rating for TBI is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not preclude him from having a full-time job prior to May 29, 2010. Therefore, his claim for TDIU prior to that date was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service and has been present continuously since then, meeting all elements of Shedden v. Principi (381 F.3d 1163).

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for bronchitis, migraines, and sinusitis due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for fatigue and migraine headaches due to a medically unexplained chronic multi symptom illness (MUCMI) is granted, as the evidence shows these conditions are part of a MUCMI with unknown etiology that has manifested to at least a 10 percent disabling level.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is dismissed as the Board finds that his symptoms are not of PTSD and he does not have a qualifying condition. The claim for service connection for Headache disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms likely began during her active duty in 2000. The Board also granted service connection for a headache disability, which is secondary to her now service-connected sinusitis.

The Veteran's headaches are currently rated as noncompensable, but her claim for service connection is remanded.,The Veteran's gastric ulcer is secondary to prescribed medication for service-connected headaches and the claim is reopened. Service connection is also remanded.,Service connection for cervical spine disorder is granted based on an in-service motor vehicle accident and prolonged sitting during IT work. The claim is remanded.,Service connection for back disorder is granted based on an in-service motor vehicle accident, prolonged sitting during IT work, and a very poor mattress during deployment. The claim is also remanded.,The Veteran's left forearm and right forearm disorders are service-connected but the claims are remanded due to lack of specific diagnoses or additional evidence needed.,Service connection for left forearm disorder is granted based on an in-service motor vehicle accident and prolonged sitting during IT work. The claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for glioblastoma, migraines as secondary to glioblastoma, cognitive disorder as secondary to glioblastoma, and the cause of the Veteran's death (as secondary to glioblastoma) due to conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the glioblastoma was caused by herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disorder (allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis), headache disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability are all granted as service-connected due to exposure to burn pits during his deployment in Southwest Asia. Effective dates will be determined based on the date of receipt of claims.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and dismissed the issues of service connection for left and right wrist disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's low back disability, determine the etiology of his sleep apnea and headaches, and determine if his nosebleeds are related to service. The Veteran's claim for skin rash was withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 50 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran is also granted TDIU.

The Veteran's appeals for headaches, a higher rating for PTSD, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities are being sent back to the AOJ for review of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability was restored to a rating of 40 percent. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, and degenerative disc disease were granted. Obesity was denied as a separate disability.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the inadequacy of the April 2023 VA examination, requiring an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed TBI and its residuals.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.