Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraines due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for tension headaches and has remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has restored a 50% disability rating for tension headaches, effective September 1, 2019, as the evidence did not show an actual improvement in the condition.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates on various conditions were dismissed as untimely filed. The appeal for PTSD was dismissed because the NOD/VA Form 10182 was not timely with respect to the January 2020 decision, which established an earlier effective date for PTSD. Appeals for endometriosis and migraines/post-traumatic headaches were also dismissed as untimely filed. The appeal for gastritis with IBS was dismissed because no new and material evidence was submitted within one year of the December 2018 rating decision establishing its increased evaluation. An earlier effective date of March 17, 2020 for sinusitis is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headache disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has found that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA examination and opinion to properly assess the current severity of the service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding whether her left knee condition and migraines were aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected scars status-post ACL repair, left knee, do not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's left knee disability does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent disabling based on limitation of flexion. Separate ratings for painful extension and instability have been granted.,Service connection has been established for right ear hearing loss, chronic sinusitis, and chronic headaches.,Left ear hearing loss service connection is denied.,The Veteran's left knee disability warrants separate 10 percent ratings for painful extension and instability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration. The Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities, but his combined rating does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU during any period on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand all the claims related to migraine headaches and its secondary conditions due to inadequate medical records prior to service and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraines is denied as there is no evidence of prostrating attacks warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, and tinnitus due to inadequate opinions and potential duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical, thoracic spine, bilateral shoulder, knee, and foot conditions, as well as headaches and an eye condition due to incomplete information regarding the Appellant's service periods and lack of verification of relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of consideration of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities in relation to his headache condition. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a headache disability, which he attributes to his service-connected conditions including sleep apnea, persistent depressive disorder, hypertension, sinusitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) opinion. The Veteran's migraines are presumed related to Gulf War service under the PACT Act.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring an additional VA medical opinion on whether the Veteran's migraine headaches are causally related to her service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headaches began during his active service and have continued since, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted with an effective date of July 11, 2019.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and traumatic brain injury have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for lumbosacral spine disability, right arm/shoulder disability, and headache (including tension and migraine) are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for migraines and lumbar strain, effective from May 12, 2011, the day following the Veteran's separation from active duty.