Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, with the Board finding that there is at least as much evidence to support these conditions being related to his military service. The Veteran's headaches, left elbow disability, left wrist disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral spine disability have been remanded for further review.,The Board has found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service. The Veteran's headaches, left elbow disability, left wrist disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral spine disability have been remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically failing to conduct a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's migraine headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and DDD of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to military service. Service connection was denied for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of July 25, 2011, for the award of service connection for migraine headaches. The AOJ assigned an effective date of February 12, 2020, based on secondary service connection to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a cognitive disorder and disability manifested by headaches and/or dizziness due to duty-to-assist errors in prior decisions. The Veteran's reported exposures are not addressed, as the claim is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches is granted, with an effective date of November 21, 2019.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for a TBI and headaches was improper, as there is no clear and unmistakable error in the original decision. Service connection for both conditions is restored.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since April 15, 2013. The Board found that the evidence supported his claim for TDIU due to these conditions.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 50 percent for migraines, effective from August 27, 2018. The Veteran's left ankle sprain and migraines were already service-connected as of that date.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's tension headaches as of March 9, 2021, finding that his symptoms most nearly approximated characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months. The Board denied any higher rating due to lack of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection of migraine headaches.

The Veteran's headaches, PTSD, and left foot dysesthetic mononeuropathy have been granted increased ratings. The dermatophytosis/tinea versicolor has not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for headaches, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service. The VA is required to provide an addendum opinion addressing potential exposure during deployments in Iraq.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for cervical spine intervertebral disc disease, lumbar strain with spondylolisthesis, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his employment is not in a protected environment and he can secure and follow substantially gainful employment despite his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, lumbar strain, migraines, arthritis (bilateral feet, knees, and hands as well as the left elbow), and sleep apnea are preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of February 12, 2019 for the grant of a 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for unspecified depressive disorder, and service connection for a migraine including migraine variants. The Veteran's basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is also granted with this effective date.

The Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU under the schedular criteria prior to January 9, 2017. The Board finds that an extra-schedular evaluation is required due to inadequate opinion from the Director of Compensation Services and a pre-decisional duty to assist error by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headache disability, and left knee chondromalacia patellae were denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for the left knee chondromalacia patellae was also denied.