Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, headaches, and OSA, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since November 17, 2015. His TDIU claim is granted. The rating for his posttraumatic headaches remains at 50 percent as it meets the criteria for a very frequent prostrating attack productive of severe economic adaptability.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The issues of service connection for various conditions have not been decided.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility are granted from April 2, 2012. The Board found the Veteran unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities since April 2, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's recurrent headaches are at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, and thus grants service connection for headaches.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for lower back disability, headache disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability. The Veteran's request to withdraw her appeal regarding sleep apnea was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him permanently housebound or in need of regular aid and assistance.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as of June 14, 2016, due to his service-connected psychiatric disorder and left shoulder disability. The effective date for the grant of a TDIU is based on the receipt of a claim for service connection for a psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been productive of very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, resulting in severe economic inadaptability. A 50 percent maximum schedular rating for migraine headaches is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, migraine headaches, diabetes mellitus, type II, hyperaldosteronism, and pituitary adenoma, are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for migraine headaches is denied as there is no evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current migraine headaches disability is etiologically related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected headache disability is granted a 30 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and neck disability due to inadequate medical opinions in the March 2022 rating decision. The Veteran is required to be afforded new VA examinations with adequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating to 50 percent due to very frequent completely prostrating attacks that are productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for headaches and hypertension have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a migraine condition due to insufficient examination findings and contradictory statements in the July 2021 VA examination report.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), migraine headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, and urinary frequency are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The claims must be reconsidered with the inclusion of all evidence of record and opinions addressing all theories of entitlement.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a final decision being made.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for tension headaches was denied. The Board has now remanded the case due to procedural errors and the need for an updated examination.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and panic disorder manifested by pseudoseizures and insomnia are found to cause his headaches, thus granting service connection for headaches as secondary to these conditions. The rating in excess of 70 percent for panic disorder is remanded, as is the earlier effective date and TDIU claim.