Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back condition, hip pain (arthralgia), and headaches, migraine due to potential pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran is presumed exposed to environmental toxins as a Persian Gulf veteran.

All issues related to increased ratings and service connection are granted effective March 30, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and headaches, as they are dependent on whether the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service. The VA needs to provide an addendum opinion addressing this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinitis and migraines due to exposure to burn pits during service. Service connection for other conditions, including respiratory disorder, right ankle tendonitis, left ankle tendonitis, lumbosacral strain, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis, is denied.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to April 7, 2016, for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for gastrointestinal problems and entitlement to a compensable rating for headaches associated with sleep apnea have been dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for migraine headaches is denied. The claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for unspecified anxiety and depressive disorders from October 31, 2019, to June 26, 2020, is also denied. However, the Veteran's TDIU claim as of January 28, 2020, is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The Board finds service connection for tinnitus is warranted due to in-service noise exposure and credible lay statements of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, radiculopathy of lower extremities, neck disability and associated radiculopathy, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disability due to incomplete information.

The Board has granted a rating of 50 percent for migraine headaches, but the right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome issue is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to in-service exposure and no intercurrent causes. The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable disability rating for hypothyroidism, GERD, sinusitis, migraine headaches, left little finger condition, or left hand scar.,The Veteran's right ankle condition, right ankle lateral reconstructive surgery, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and PTSD are all remanded as the evidence is insufficient to make a determination on these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and the need for a medical opinion regarding the Appellant's mental state at the time of his misconduct during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headache disorder is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted service connection as they were incurred during active service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD and claimed as depression and anxiety, is also granted service connection as it was incurred during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and providing an adequate VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed hand and finger disorders. The claims for service connection are also remanded.

The Veteran's headache disability is denied for a rating higher than 0 percent prior to February 7, 2018, and denied for a rating in excess of 30 percent as of February 7, 2018.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for confusional migraines was reopened due to new and material evidence. The appeal is granted, but the claim for a psychiatric disability remains denied.

The Veteran's tension headaches and tinnitus were found to be incurred in service.,Service connection was granted for bilateral shin splints, left hip disability, right hip disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left wrist and forearm disability, right wrist disability, and right elbow disability as secondary to generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, claimed as secondary to a service-connected disability (specifically persistent depressive disorder with persistent major depressive episode and generalized anxiety disorder), has been granted. However, since the grant of service connection, there is no justiciable case or controversy remaining for active consideration by the Board.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been granted service connection.,Initial compensable evaluations for the surgical scars of the right and left knees were denied.,Service connection for a left ankle/achilles disability (tendonitis) is granted, but initial compensable evaluations are not warranted.,A remand is required to obtain an adequate medical nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed left ankle/achilles disability.