Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and service connection for bilateral hearing loss, migraines, and seizure disorder. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to readjudicate his claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and headaches, finding new and relevant evidence. The lumbar spine disability claim is still pending.

The Veteran's tension headaches did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating criteria, as they were characterized by less frequent attacks without characteristic prostrating attacks.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for bipolar disorder was denied as the increase in disability did not occur prior to February 5, 2019.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on housebound status was also denied as she was not found to be housebound in fact due to service-connected disabilities prior to March 20, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, head injury, chronic headaches, and back pain and nerve damage has been granted. The issues of service connection for these conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial rating in excess of 50 percent for migraines has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of a compensable rating for deviated septum, residual of a broken nose.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee tendinitis with degenerative arthritis, and other conditions has been withdrawn. The VA is remanding the claims for service connection for various conditions due to toxic exposure risk activity (TERA).,The VA is remanding the claims for service connection for a back condition, headaches, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, bilateral leg condition, functional dysphagia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep paralysis, neck arthritis, chronic gastric ulcer (stomach bloating), and hypothyroidism have been denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis with sinus headaches has also been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea secondary to COPD is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches due to a pre-decisional error and the need for an adequate VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to service-connected disabilities, including considering whether obesity caused by service-connected disabilities may have contributed to OSA development.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral petrous apex cephaloceles, TBI, migraine headaches, and a bilateral eye condition. The claim for a bilateral ankle condition is remanded due to the lack of an adequate VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date prior to June 28, 2021, for a 30 percent disability rating for service-connected migraines. The evidence did not show that the Veteran experienced prostrating attacks of migraine pain on average once a month over the last several months.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are due to her service-connected fibromyalgia, and the Board has granted secondary service connection for these headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability necessitates his need for regular aid and assistance of another individual to assist in bathing, preparing meals, tending to hygiene needs, and managing medication. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to this condition.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, migraines including migraine variants, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are all granted as service connected.,Reasoning for the cervical spine disability: The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability had onset in service.

The Veteran's tension headaches have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, which is the highest possible rating under Diagnostic Code 8100.,Service connection has been granted for both left and right knee conditions. Both knees are currently assigned a 100 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's headaches, including as secondary to service-connected tinnitus, and her acquired psychiatric disorder, previously claimed as PTSD. The VA will provide an adequate examination and opinion on these issues.

Entitlement to service connection for migraines, hypertension, and pseudofolliculitis barbae is dismissed as these conditions were granted in new claims filed after the initial denial.,Entitlement to service connection for tinnitus was previously denied in December 2018 and has not been appealed within the time frame allowed by VA regulations. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected neuralgia left mandibular to include severed mandibular nerve left, with loss of five teeth, from the January 2020 decision is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for headaches from the November 2019 decision is dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to incomplete STRs and inadequate VA examination.