Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, left shoulder disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence in the original decision. The Veteran's reports of symptoms will be considered during the new examinations.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.,Specifically, the AOJ must provide the Veteran with a comprehensive examination and obtain medical opinions addressing his claimed bilateral foot condition, left shoulder condition, swollen painful joints, psychiatric conditions, shortness of breath, digestive condition, and headaches.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is found to be at least as likely as not related to his service-connected tinnitus and left knee disabilities.,The Veteran's low back disability is found to be at least as likely as not related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches is granted as of February 3, 2017.,The Veteran's eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is also granted as of February 3, 2017.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's migraine headaches, finding that these headaches are characterized by very frequent prostrating attacks and severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, while his bilateral hearing loss and migraine headaches are denied. The Veteran also has a grant of service connection for chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis but an initial non-compensable rating for meibomian gland dysfunction resulting in dry eye syndrome.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50 percent effective August 6, 2020.,The TDIU issue is dismissed as the Veteran has a 100% rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable initial rating for tension headaches is remanded due to the need for clarification on the diagnosis and severity of his headache symptoms. The VA examinations conducted so far are inadequate, and a new examination is required to address these issues.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD and/or weight gain due to inability to exercise due to service-connected musculoskeletal conditions. The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 50 percent rating, but no higher.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent prior to November 20, 2019. The appeal for a higher rating in excess of 30 percent from November 20, 2019 and an effective date prior to June 30, 2017 has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a diagnosis or treatment for this condition during service.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 24, 2020, for the grant of service connection for migraine headaches was also denied due to lack of formal claims and existing VA records not serving as informal claims.

The Board has determined that the March 26, 2019 Notice of Disagreement was timely filed and serves to initiate an appeal with respect to the July 2017 rating decision denying service connection for various conditions.

An effective date of February 29, 2012, is granted for the award of service connection for tension headaches.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for right sciatica is denied. The RO awarded a 40 percent rating effective June 22, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and tension headaches due to insufficient evidence or inadequate examination opinions. The Veteran's claim for loss of teeth for compensation purposes remains denied.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for residuals of left foot healed fracture is dismissed.,The Veteran's entitlement to a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 8100. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been reduced to 40 percent from 40 percent and then to 10 percent, with no further increase possible under Diagnostic Code 5239. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been dismissed as the appeal period ended with a full award of benefits.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with dysthymia was denied due to symptoms not meeting criteria for a higher disability rating.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that his TBI began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, including the hearing request, before a decision was made. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's ED is remanded for a VA medical opinion to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and PTSD.,The Veteran's left hip and right hip disabilities are remanded for a VA medical opinion to determine if they are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.,The Veteran's left lower extremity and right lower extremity neurological disabilities are remanded for a VA medical opinion to determine if they are secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not addressed in this decision as no theory of service connection was provided.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine status post fusion with associated bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's traumatic brain injury with associated chronic post-traumatic headaches is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.