Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for TBI, migraines, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are not yet fully informed due to a lack of VA examiner opinions on whether these conditions had their onset in service or are related to service.

The Board has remanded the appeals for additional development due to a failure to provide proper notice of substitution.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded several service connection and rating issues due to the need for additional evidence or examinations.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal for the issues of service connection for headaches, a pituitary gland disability, and for a compensable rating for residuals of a bilateral fractured mandibular joint. The appeal for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is also dismissed.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and migraines are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of in-service evidence and potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea) is remanded due to potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for headaches, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, is remanded due to potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for a back condition is remanded due to lack of in-service evidence and potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for a left shoulder condition is remanded due to lack of in-service evidence and potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for a right shoulder condition is remanded due to lack of in-service evidence and potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for a left ankle condition is remanded due to lack of in-service evidence and potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for a right ankle condition is remanded due to lack of in-service evidence and potential TERA exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition, neck condition, and migraines as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, right foot condition, sinus condition, and migraines due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of evidence addressing service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with TBI was denied, and his claim for a 10 percent rating for migraine headaches with aura as secondary to PTSD with TBI was granted.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for posttraumatic tension headaches prior to November 19, 2012 was denied.,From November 19, 2012, to October 5, 2015, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his headaches condition was also denied. From October 5, 2015, onwards, the Veteran's claim for an even higher rating remained pending.,The Board found that there was no evidence of severe economic inadaptability due to the Veteran's headache condition from November 19, 2012, to October 5, 2015.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including right foot cold weather injury, left foot cold weather injury, right hand cold weather injury, left hand cold weather injury, bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, acquired psychiatric disorder, headache disorder, and low back disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and a low back disability are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and plantar fasciitis, respectively.

The Veteran's claims for headaches/migraines, back condition and high blood pressure have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,However, these claims are still pending as they were remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, warranting a TDIU from March 29, 2016.

The Veteran's migraines are granted a 50% rating, the residuals of traumatic brain injury prior to March 21, 2018 are denied, and from March 21, 2018 forward, a higher rating is denied. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine receives a 40% rating, and service connection for erectile dysfunction as a residual of TBI is granted.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are not found to cause the need for aid and attendance, leading to a remand for further clarification.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting the definition of a VA compensation disability.,The Veteran's foot condition, diagnosed as left foot plantar wart, and back condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's migraines (claimed as secondary to TBI) and cysts are also remanded for further evaluation.,No service connection is granted for any of the conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with IVDS is dismissed as moot due to a prior grant of service connection. The claims for increased rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), high blood pressure (hypertension), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and headaches are all denied. The claim for service connection for flat foot-foot pain (also claimed as foot cramps/spasms of left foot) and knee conditions is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluations and determinations regarding his service-connected conditions, including PTSD, tinnitus, migraine headaches, left hip disabilities, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.