Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine and radiculopathy conditions, right knee disability, unspecified depressive disorder, sciatic nerve radiculopathies, femoral nerve radiculopathies, and tension-migraine headaches have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 5, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and tension headaches due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically missing private treatment records from chiropractors and a recent VA examiner's opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of CUE in a September 1997 rating decision for further adjudication.

The Board has remanded the claims for thoracolumbar spine disability and migraine headaches, as well as the TDIU claim. The issues are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all pending claims and appeals, including the appeal for an increased rating for chronic headaches. As a result, the Board has dismissed the claim.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for arachnoid cyst has been dismissed. The Veteran's entitlement to initial ratings of 60 percent for migraine headaches and 30 percent for limited jaw motion and pain have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal to increase the rating for his migraine headaches has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal in June 2024.

The Board has granted service connection for a migraine disorder secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis. The initial rating claim for GERD is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the compensable disability rating for tension headaches.

The Veteran's migraines have been rated at 30 percent since December 13, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not show very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks indicative of severe economic inadaptability, thus denying a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for glaucoma and headaches have been dismissed because the Veteran requested withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's headaches have worsened since the last VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of his disability.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted secondary to his service-connected cervical strain and squamous cell carcinoma, left tongue s/p partial glossectomy.,The Veteran's headache disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and squamous cell carcinoma, left tongue s/p partial glossectomy.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and migraine disabilities render her unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to January 11, 2012, for PTSD service connection and for migraine headaches are denied. The Veteran's claim for right hand and right middle finger disability is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), right knee disability, and bilateral hallux valgus (bunions). The effective dates were not addressed as they are not relevant to the disposition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis (also claimed as pes planus) has been withdrawn. The claims of service connection for migraines, depression, hearing loss, and allergic rhinitis are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraines are not related to service, but may be secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the cause of the migraines and their relationship to toxic exposures during service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the claims of bilateral vision loss and migraine headaches, including as secondary to bilateral vision loss. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these appeals.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for her headache syndrome was denied as there is no evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks, which are required for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code.