Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and depression NOS and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. The Veteran's reported symptoms in service are considered credible, and the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and migraine headaches are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Board requires VA to obtain the private DBQs submitted by the Veteran, or provide him with an opportunity for VA examinations.

The Veteran's tension headaches are characterized by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, resulting in severe economic inadaptability. The Board has granted a 50% rating for this condition.

The Veteran's TDIU and housebound status claims are both granted due to the severity of her service-connected disabilities, which render her unable to work and substantially confined to her home.

The appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for major depressive disorder or insomnia, sleep apnea, and increased ratings for post-operative residuals spinal fusion/IVDS, right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), painful scar, status post laminectomy, scars, status post laminectomy and spinal fusion surgeries, and maxillary sinusitis has been dismissed as the Veteran's attorney withdrew his appeal in June 2024.,The appeal regarding entitlement to service connection for headaches was rendered moot by the AOJ's award of service connection for headaches in February 2024.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's headaches, including whether they are related to service or his TBI. The VA is required to provide a new examination and opinion.

The Veteran's effective date for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) based on permanent and total disability status is granted as of March 20, 2020.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD with TBI is denied. The earliest proper effective date is March 20, 2020.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will provide further examination and opinions regarding the Veteran's headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions, including major depressive disorder, pulmonary vascular disease, post-phlebitic syndrome of the left lower extremity, and migraine headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability and low back disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right thumb wound, headache disability, right eye scar, head trauma, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left ear injury, right arm scar, chest scar, forehead scar, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety). The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was denied in December 2009, and no new or material evidence was submitted within one year. The effective date remains September 10, 2018.

The reduction of the Veteran's rating for tension headaches from 30% to 0% was improper, and his prior rating of 30% is restored. The GERD claim requires further development due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's hypertension headaches are rated at a 10 percent disability rating, effective from May 23, 2021.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent each, with no higher ratings possible under the applicable diagnostic codes.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity musculocutaneous nerve is rated at 10 percent, while his radiculopathy of the long thoracic nerve remains noncompensable.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine including migraine variants but has remanded the issue of service connection for recurrent facial neurological disability to include nerve damage.

The Veteran's claim for a headache disability was denied as there is no evidence of current symptoms or treatment.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction were also denied due to lack of evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's headaches, including daytime and migraine headaches, are found to be secondary to her service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective July 1, 2019.,Basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is established as of July 1, 2019.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea was granted. Claims for hypertension and headaches are remanded due to insufficient evidence.