Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current headache condition and his active military service or his service-connected high blood pressure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and migraine headaches, including as secondary to PTSD. The remand is due to inadequate medical opinions on previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at 50 percent effective September 4, 2019. His PTSD with depressive symptoms is still rated at 50 percent and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension, migraine headaches, and psychiatric disability have been granted increased ratings. Service connection for a right ankle condition has also been established.

The Veteran's annual VA clothing allowance for the HG80 hinged knee brace is granted. However, his claim for an annual VA clothing allowance due to use of hydrophilic and menthol topical creams is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected migraine headaches, finding that he did not experience characteristic prostrating attacks of headache pain on average once every two months over the last several months.

The reduction in rating for a service-connected migraine disorder from 30 percent to noncompensable effective November 1, 2019 is improper and is void ab initio; therefore, the petition to reverse the reduction is granted. The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for migraine disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches has been granted due to a reopening of the claim based on new and relevant evidence.,Service connection for vision loss was denied as there is no evidence that the condition first manifested during or preexisted service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were rated at 30 percent prior to May 26, 2020. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of very prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's migraine headaches and painful scar of the right forearm are granted service connection as they had onset in service.,A maximum schedular 20 percent rating for status post left hip arthroscopic surgery for labrum repair based on loss of abduction is granted.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate effective March 12, 2022. The decision is based on his service-connected depression and tinnitus, which together meet the criteria for SMC.

The Board denied service connection for insomnia, vertigo, and migraine as they are not linked to the Veteran's active-duty service or a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's hypertension is due to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's migraine disability is proximately due to his PTSD.

The Veteran's migraines were characterized by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, leading to a grant of an initial rating of 50 percent.

Service connection for PTSD is granted due to a finding of direct service connection based on in-service sexual assault.,Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Irritable Bowel Syndrome are denied as not secondary to or attributable to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for post traumatic headaches, right shoulder disability, and lumbar spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring clarification of the date of onset and whether the Veteran's current migraine headache disability clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service. The examiner is also required to provide an opinion on whether the disability was aggravated by service or is likely due to service.

The Board has dismissed all the issues related to service connection and increased disability ratings due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, gastritis, and right and left back sacroiliitis were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus and chronic headaches.,Service connection was not established for the claimed conditions due to lack of current disability evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status, as he is able to care for himself and does not require regular aid and assistance.