Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to unclear etiology and need for further development, including potential exposure to hazardous chemicals while stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue with dizziness and headaches due to medically unexplained multi-symptom illness, as well as his TDIU claim. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all outstanding records, including prison treatment records, and obtain retrospective VA opinions addressing the nature and severity of these conditions prior to August 18, 2015, and their impact on work capacity.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent prior to June 20, 2023. The Board found that the evidence supported this rating based on the severity and impact of her attacks.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable evaluation for sarcoidosis was denied. The Board found that his sarcoidosis did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it did not result in persistent symptoms requiring treatment with corticosteroids, cor pulmonale, cardiac involvement, or progressive pulmonary disease.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation prior to March 8, 2022 for tension headaches was denied. The Board found that his headaches did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating as they did not result in characteristic prostrating attacks.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and reviewing submitted evidence. The case will be reconsidered after these developments.

The Veteran's increased initial ratings for headaches are remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from July 16, 2013. All service connection claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and migraine headaches have been granted. The claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sinusitis, migraines, and obstructive sleep apnea due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to have begun during his active duty service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left foot scar, sinusitis, vasomotor rhinitis, acne, chronic yeast vaginitis, and migraine headaches are all denied increased ratings.,Specifically, the Veteran's left foot scar is not rated higher than 10 percent. Her sinusitis does not meet criteria for a 30 percent rating due to insufficient incapacitating episodes or non-incapacitating episodes. The Veteran's vasomotor rhinitis does not result in at least 50% obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, nor are there any nasal polyps present.

The Veteran's challenges to the validity of his overpayment amount are granted, reducing it from $1,471.58 to $1,451.28.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected headaches, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of characteristic prostrating attacks or severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has granted service connection for a migraine headache disability. However, the right wrist condition, bilateral shin splints, and breast pain disabilities are remanded due to functional impairment issues.

Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, fatigue, left shoulder pain, right wrist pain, esophageal reflux, sleep disturbances, headaches, lung condition, hypertension, and heart condition are denied. A rating in excess of 10 percent for a painful scar on the left knee and a compensable rating for non-painful scars on the left knee is granted.

The Board has remanded two issues: the claim of a higher rating for PTSD with sleep disturbance and the claim for a compensable rating for tension headaches due to potential missing records from private providers.

The Veteran's service-connected myositis, anterior wallet, is granted a 10 percent rating. The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep disability, bilateral lung disability, heart disability, and migraines. The Board found no current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his substantive appeal was not timely filed, and thus the issues of service connection for headaches and psychiatric disorder, as well as increased ratings for head scar and right knee disability, remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete review under the modernized review system.