Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for complex partial seizures with accompanying migraine headaches is remanded due to the absence of recent private medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and migraine headaches secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The appeals of the denials of service connection for hypertension, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are dismissed. Service connection for chronic kidney disease is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an examination and the need for medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed headaches, which are related to his service-connected tinnitus and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches were reduced from a 50% rating to a 30% rating, effective January 1, 2019. The Board found that the evidence showed actual improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and records. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, right ankle, eye, and respiratory conditions due to insufficient medical opinions.,Flu residuals are also being remanded as there is uncertainty about whether they are separate from service-connected TBI residuals.

The Veteran's low back disability, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, PTSD, and hernia are granted. The Veteran is also granted higher ratings for PTSD and hernia from specific dates. Other conditions are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, a heart condition (claimed as coronary artery disease), hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include major depressive disorder. The decision is mixed, with some issues being granted and others not. The appeal was remanded for additional development on the headache condition and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran was granted a 50 percent disability rating for migraine headaches prior to January 28, 2016 and as of January 28, 2016. The rating is based on very frequent prostrating attacks resulting in significant economic inadaptability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and headaches due to inadequate medical opinions, failure to comply with previous remand instructions, and need for additional development including toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination due to lack of compliance with previous directives.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a 40% rating prior to January 6, 2021. The other claims for TBI, headache disorder, and stressor related disorder are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, post-traumatic tissue mass of the right midfoot, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acne rosacea, and tension headaches. Service connection was denied for a right knee disability, arrhythmia, prostatic hypertrophy, and a disability manifested as tingling and numbness in hands, fingers, toes, and forehead.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of migraines, cervical spine disability, PTSD, lumbar spine disability, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, GERD, allergic rhinitis, tinnitus, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 4, 2010 for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance (SMC(l)) due to lack of evidence indicating loss of use of both feet or lower extremities prior to that date.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Appellant's service connection claims, including back disability, right knee disability, bilateral sciatica, neck disability, chronic headache disorder, and associated conditions. The decision also includes a request for additional medical records and examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The effective date of service connection for residual scar status-post TBI is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were generally granted, with some issues remanded. An effective date of February 18, 2016 was established for the grant of a 10 percent rating for ethmoid sinusitis.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a right shoulder disability, left foot Morton's neuroma, traumatic arthritis of the left ankle, arthralgia of the left knee, post-concussive syndrome, depressive disorder with post-concussive syndrome (previously rated as personality change due to another medical condition), migraine headaches, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The AOJ is directed to obtain all VA treatment records scanned into VistA Imaging or other repository.