Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome is dismissed as it constitutes an impermissible concurrent election.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus is dismissed because the January 2022 decision did not address this issue and there was no appealable rating decision within one year of the September 2022 VA Form 10182.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for migraine headaches is granted, with the effective date set at May 13, 2014. The claim for an earlier effective date for left and right upper extremity nerve impairment and vision problems related to bilateral dry eye syndrome is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for left and right upper extremity nerve impairment and vision problems related to bilateral dry eye syndrome is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, chronic right knee pain, chronic left knee pain, lumbar strain, migraine headaches, and stomach problems due to incomplete service records and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating for migraine headaches, but no higher.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for memory loss and headaches due to a failure to obtain an adequate medical opinion. The Veteran's current diagnoses include traumatic brain injury (TBI) with mild memory loss and headaches, and he contends these conditions are related to a head injury during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of PTSD was denied as February 8, 2020 is the earliest date on which the increase in disability became factually ascertainable.,An effective date of January 19, 2021 but no earlier was granted for service connection of right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The claim was remanded as there was not actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.,The rating reduction from 50% to 30% for migraines was found improper, and a 50% rating is restored.,Service connection for hypertension (high blood pressure), erectile dysfunction, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Veteran's disability rating for headaches was reduced from 50% to 30%, but the Board has restored the 50% rating for the period from April 1, 2021, to August 14, 2023.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for migraines is granted at a 50 percent rating, but no higher. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include insomnia and depression) due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were found to have first manifested in service and persisted since, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding tinnitus, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, left knee, mad cow disease, and PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral restless leg syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches have not been manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over the last several months, or very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. As such, the claim for a compensable rating for tension headaches is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the claims of service connection for granulomas-spleen, lung granulomas-night middle lobe (chest), and chronic headaches. The Board dismissed these appeals.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection regarding migraine headaches, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and vertigo have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for service-connected migraines, finding that her headaches did not meet the criteria for any higher rating under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the award of a 50 percent rating for headaches of an unspecified nature. The AOJ did not obtain her VA treatment records from the Houston VAMC, which may contain relevant evidence to support this claim.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of TBI are rated at 40 percent, effective May 8, 2018. The Veteran is also in receipt of a separate 50 percent rating for headaches associated with his TBI. Both ratings have been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder and cannabis use was granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent. Other service connection claims were denied or remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of July 18, 2016, for the award of a 20 percent disability rating for cervical spine disorder is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for migraines is denied.