Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Board has granted an effective date of July 1, 2012 for the Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility. The decision is based on the fact that the Veteran became unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities starting from January 26, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral knee disabilities are not attributable to active military service.

The Veteran's mental health condition, including anxiety and headaches, is granted. The Veteran also receives a 30 percent disability rating for her transformed anxiety-tension headaches (claimed as migraine headaches) and sinusitis and non-allergic rhinitis since December 17, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for right eye condition, left eye condition, and headaches condition due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's service treatment records show he was injured during a period of active duty for training in July 1984 when an immersion heater exploded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome and migraine headaches due to duty-to-assist errors. Specifically, a new VA examination is required to address whether the Veteran's pre-existing conditions worsened during service.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and denied an earlier effective date for the award of TDIU. The decision on the left knee disability claim is based on direct service connection, while the TDIU claim was granted with an effective date of October 15, 2020.

The Veteran's anxiety is found to be related to her military service.,There is no current evidence of a chronic headache disability for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic pain in the left foot, right foot, or right ankle.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic pain in the right ankle.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for headaches due to new evidence submitted after the June 2017 denial. The issues of service connection for a low back disability and bilateral pes planus have been dismissed as they were not properly addressed in the appeal process.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for migraine headaches, TBI with PTSD, and right leg scar have been dismissed. The appeal for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain (back disability) is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, residuals of brain aneurysm, seizure disorder, migraine headaches, scar over left eye, and surgical scar on top of head are not supported by evidence. The Board finds that there is no current medical opinion linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent, which is the highest schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100. The Board found that this rating adequately reflects the severity and impact on the Veteran's economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claim for loss of sense of smell is denied as there is no current disability during the rating period.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for headaches is denied due to lack of characteristic prostrating attacks.

The reduction of the 70 percent rating for specified trauma and stressor related disorder was improper; restoration of the 70 percent rating effective December 1, 2019 is granted. The Veteran's entitlement to service connection for headaches, to include as secondary to service-connected sleep apnea and/or specified trauma and stressor related disorder, and his entitlement to a TDIU are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests for an earlier effective date for awards of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Basic Eligibility of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The effective dates remain June 23, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a right shoulder disorder, and a back disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities within close proximity to the filing of his claims.,There are no treatment records documenting any symptoms or diagnoses related to these conditions after service. The Veteran did not report any such symptoms prior to the December 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension and service connection for migraine headaches has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show diastolic readings of predominantly 110 or more or systolic readings of 200 or more, and there is no current diagnosis of migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his periods of active duty, inactive duty training, and exposure. The AOJ must obtain pay stubs from the Navy Reserve to determine these periods and provide VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of the veteran's head injury, back disability, respiratory disability, and heart disability.

The Veteran's GERD and neurological disorder, to include headaches, are granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities of bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome and status post reconstruction of right shoulder with residual frozen shoulder.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions obtained are insufficient to make a decision on the Veteran's claims. The case is therefore being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 30 percent, effective as of the date of this decision.,The Veteran's generalized headaches are rated at 30 percent, effective as of the date of this decision.