Migraines & headaches decisions — 2023

The Veteran's headaches are granted a 30 percent rating prior to September 28, 2018 and a 50 percent rating thereafter. The right knee disability is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for depression was withdrawn, and the claims for sarcoidosis, lymphadenopathy, lymphadenitis of the joints, headaches (secondary to PTSD), obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD), and cirrhosis with enlarged spleen and esophageal varices were all dismissed due to lack of new and material evidence or other legal grounds.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence received after the appeal was certified to the Board in October 2018.

The Board dismissed appeals for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome prior to January 18, 2018, and earlier effective dates for service connection for TBI and tension headaches. The Board also granted an effective date of January 18, 2018, but no earlier, for the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's headaches are currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's sliding hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux warrants a 10 percent rating based on symptoms such as pyrosis, reflux, regurgitation, and substernal pain. A higher rating is denied.,Service connection for the low back disability was previously denied in a final May 2008 decision. The claim has been reopened due to new evidence received since then.,PTSD was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus service connection is denied.,Chronic fatigue syndrome was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus service connection is denied.

The Veteran's entitlement to service connection for headaches has been granted.,Service connection was denied for the cyst, and the case is being remanded due to lack of pertinent evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to respond to a VA Form 21-8940 and marked as no-show at scheduled examinations. The address discrepancy is noted, and further development is required.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for updated medical records, a more current examination of his headache condition, and consideration of the impact on his employment.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship of her disabilities to service, particularly her periods of National Guard duty and active duty for training.

Service connection is granted for IBS, GERD, migraine headaches (as secondary to IBS), right knee osteoarthritis (secondary to lumbar spine disability), and CFS (secondary to lumbar spine disability).,Service connection is denied for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea was denied as there is no persuasive evidence that the condition was incurred in or aggravated by service.,For his headaches, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to September 26, 2019, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter were also denied.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being reviewed, but the specific outcomes have not been determined yet.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple issues are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The rating for migraine headaches is granted at a 50 percent level prior to January 24, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence since the last rating decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and chronic headaches due to new and material evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected asthma and whether his chronic headaches are caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's initial rating for service-connected migraine headaches has been granted at a 30 percent level, effective August 1, 2015. The Veteran's hypertension is not rated as compensable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence for service connection of neck disability, headache and sleep disabilities, and acquired psychiatric disability. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for PTSD, lumbar strain, PFB, headaches, and right hand strain. The Veteran's representative withdrew their representation, and Disabled American Veterans was appointed as the new representative.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between his current headache disorder and his period of active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for a new examination with a neurologist to evaluate his TBI, psychiatric, and migraine disability symptoms. The earlier effective date and increased rating claims are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the TBI claim.