Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased rating and service connection claims due to his withdrawal of these appeals in an April 2024 statement.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 18, 2016 for the award of a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disorder, migraine headaches, erectile dysfunction, Lyme disease, and chronic fatigue syndrome are being REMANDED due to a duty-to-assist error.,New VA examinations and medical opinions are needed as the July 2019 VA examiner did not adequately address all relevant evidence.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of SMC aid and attendance based on need for regular aid and attendance from October 19, 2021. The Veteran's VA treatment records showed he was not permanently bedridden or so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance prior to October 19, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and rating of ingrown toenail has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of all issues.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and is dismissed for all issues related to increased evaluations for various disabilities, including migraine headaches, cervical spine disability, radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran also withdrew his request for a restoration of a 30 percent disability rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to February 21, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50% rating for service-connected migraine headaches is denied. The VA granted the increased rating on May 8, 2017, based on a VA examination conducted that day.

The Veteran's low back, left knee, and headaches disabilities are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's dermatitis disability is also granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches and erectile dysfunction have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service exposure, specifically his diabetes and unspecified trauma- and stressor-related disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 14, 2019 for a 50% rating for migraine headaches has been denied. The decision is based on the fact that there was no formal or informal claim within one year prior to the receipt of the August 2019 written intent to file a claim.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for migraine headaches and vertigo, as secondary to service-connected tinnitus. Additional medical opinions are needed to address whether these conditions are caused by or resulted from the service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and he did not meet the requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1310 or § 1318.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with TBI and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating effective July 18, 2019. Service connection for esophageal cancer is remanded due to the PACT Act's expansion of presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50% effective April 24, 2012. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's headache disability is rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum rating allowed for very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for memory loss and insomnia have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of these issues. The remaining claims (left knee disability, bilateral shin disability, nasal surgery residuals, headaches, to include dizziness, and brain disability) are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for attorney fees as the appellant notified the RO of his intent to withdraw the BVA Notice of Disagreement and received a memorandum releasing fees.

The Veteran's effective date for a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches is granted as of July 8, 2020.,Effective dates prior to October 26, 2020 are denied for increased ratings for cervical spine strain, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, right leg varicose veins, and left leg varicose veins.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 13, 2019 for migraine headaches and August 30, 2019 for asthma have been denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date for service connection was not earlier than the dates of the respective decisions.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to a full grant in February 2022. The dental condition, bowel condition (IBS and irritable colon), and migraine headaches are remanded.