Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision regarding service connection for various conditions and requires additional medical opinions to address these issues.

The Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 26, 2011 is denied.,The earlier effective date for service connection of cervical strain is denied.,The initial rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical strain is denied.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), and service connection for residual(s) of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD are being remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's initial rating for a migraine headache disability is granted at 30 percent, effective from July 12, 2018.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions including thoracolumbar spine disorder, anxiety, depression, headaches, tinnitus, and an eye disorder due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been granted due to the submission of new evidence that supports a finding of a current disability and a link between the condition and active duty service.,Service connection for a left knee disorder was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability effective November 27, 2016. She is also now in receipt of basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance from the same date.,An earlier effective date for both TDIU and DEA grants is not warranted as the evidence does not support an earlier disability onset or entitlement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The reduction of the Veteran's migraine headaches rating from 50% to 0% effective February 1, 2021 was improper and is void ab initio. The 50% rating for migraines is restored.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the onset and relationship of his claimed conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for migraine headaches was dismissed due to procedural errors in the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and VA examinations.,Specifically, the Board finds that there may be missing service treatment records from his active duty service in Southwest Asia (SWA) during the Persian Gulf War. Additionally, Reserve and National Guard medical records need to be obtained as they could provide information about the onset of his current conditions.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending claims and appeals, including those related to various conditions and service connection issues. As a result, the Board dismissed these cases.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chest pain, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, and left ankle disability are all denied. The VA will need to provide additional examinations and opinions regarding the relationship of these conditions to service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent effective May 1, 2018. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for migraine headaches and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches. The issues are being remanded because the April 2023 decision did not adequately address the frequency of the Veteran's prostrating headaches.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions regarding hearing loss, tinnitus, and their relationship to service are inadequate. The claims for these conditions must be remanded to provide a new examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including right hand fifth digit condition, respiratory condition (including asthma and COPD), left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, low back condition, hypertension, migraines headaches, and congestive heart failure.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including hyperlipidemia, hypertension, peripheral vestibular disorder, a disability manifested by passing out, obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, low back disability, psychiatric disorders, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right knee disability and its secondary effects on other joints and systems. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant records, conduct additional development, and provide appropriate VA examinations as needed.