Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent as of March 6, 2020, due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks that significantly impact his ability to work.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and earlier effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for hearing loss or disability of the cervical spine, and denied all other claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, GERD, and IBS, as well as a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. The evidence does not support finding that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are granted with a 30 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches are currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has determined that more contemporaneous VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of his disability, and thus remands the case for such evaluations.

The Veteran's initial 50 percent disability rating for migraine headaches has been restored, effective December 1, 2019.,The appeal for an increased PTSD rating was withdrawn and the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records and provide appropriate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of complete service treatment records, particularly from the Veteran's National Guard service period. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and then readjudicate the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine (neck) disability and headaches, finding that the evidence is at least in balance with respect to these conditions being related to service.

The Veteran's rating for migraine headaches was improperly reduced from 50% to noncompensable, and the 50% disability rating is restored. The effective date of SMC based on housebound status prior to November 8, 2020, and SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance are denied.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss that meets the regulatory threshold.,The Veteran's claim for psychiatric disorder is denied as there is no evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition and migraine headaches, as well as his increased rating claims for left foot pes planus with DJD of the left great toe and right foot pes planus with DJD of the right great toe. The lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches is granted, as the evidence supports a finding that his current migraines began during active duty and are related to his service.,Service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) is denied. The Veteran reported having hit his head in service but there is no objective evidence of any TBI or concussion at any time during the pendency of the claim, nor has he presented a current disability that can be linked to service.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and anxiety), and OSA, all of which are found to be proximately due or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected back condition.

The Veteran's appeal of reducing her service-connected migraines evaluation from 50% to 30% was dismissed because she withdrew the appeal at a hearing.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted service connection.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not granted an increased rating.,The Veteran's IBS is not granted a higher than 10 percent rating.,The Veteran's PTSD remains at the maximum (70%) disability rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and other claims were generally granted, with some issues being denied or having their ratings adjusted. The decision covers various conditions including RLS, PTSD with TBI, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, herpes simplex virus, cervical spine DDD, tarsal tunnel syndrome, knee pain syndromes, and thumb sprain.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 50 percent disability rating, the highest available under DC 8100, due to very frequent and completely prostrating attacks that cause severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and migraine headaches, to include as secondary to the back disability, have been granted due to new and relevant evidence. The cases are remanded for further adjudication.