Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been denied.,No new evidence or changes in the Veteran's conditions were presented, leading to a denial of all issues on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for IBS, a left hip disability (secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability), GERD, and migraine headaches as there was no current diagnosis or evidence of qualifying chronic disabilities.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for Major Depressive Disorder and Tension Headaches were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's MDD did not result in total occupational and social impairment, while his tension headaches met the criteria for a 50 percent rating but did not meet the criteria for an extra-schedular evaluation. The issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder strain with impingement and tension headaches due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring new VA opinions.

The appellant's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The appeal for service connection for headaches is dismissed as moot due to the July 2022 rating decision recognizing it as a symptom of his service-connected TBI. The appellant's initial disability rating for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and associated symptoms, including headaches, is granted at 40 percent.

The Board has found that the VA examinations provided in January 2021 were deficient and remanded for new examinations to determine the current severity of the Veteran's migraine headaches, painful right knee scars, and bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, left foot condition, lower back condition, and migraine headaches have been denied.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Camp Lejeune water contamination issues, Gulf War syndrome, and sleep apnea have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings in several conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for migraine headaches and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to duty-to-assist errors, lack of medical evidence, and insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of very frequent and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease, migraines, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and corneal scar, right eye (right eye disability) have been denied.,The earliest effective dates available under the applicable law for these awards are February 11, 2019, for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities, and migraine headaches; January 22, 2014, for corneal scar, right eye (right eye disability).

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and TDIU are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of migraine headaches due to a procedural defect in filing an untimely VA Form 10182 Decision Review Request.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 30 percent since June 10, 2019. The Board finds that the new evidence received in July 2019 supports readjudicating his claim for service connection of a spine condition and remands for further action on his right hip iliotibial band syndrome issues.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to PTSD is granted, and the case is remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims for a compensable initial rating for migraine headaches and TDIU due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's medications are not considered in evaluating his migraines, and clarification is needed about his symptoms.

Service connection for chronic costochondritis is granted, and a 50 percent rating for tension headaches since December 9, 2019 is also granted.,A 20 percent rating for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain since November 2, 2020 is granted. The issue of a compensable rating (greater than 0 percent) for right ear hearing loss since November 2, 2020 is remanded.

The Veteran's headaches and gastrointestinal problems (GERD-diarrhea) have been granted initial ratings of 30 percent each, effective July 1, 2010.,An earlier effective date of July 1, 2010, for the grant of service connection for gastrointestinal problems (GERD-diarrhea) has also been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service.