Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Board has denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and has remanded the issue of service connection for tension headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disability but has remanded the claim of cervical strain due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of insomnia, migraines, and right ankle arthritis.

The Board has dismissed the appeal challenging the reduction of the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches disability rating from 30% to noncompensable, as the proposed action had not yet been finalized.

Your claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been granted, effective July 24, 2023. The appeal is dismissed as the benefits sought have already been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 30 percent for migraine headaches is granted, with the effective date set at August 21, 2019. The Board found that the worsening in his condition was factually ascertainable beginning in August 2019.

The Board has dismissed all issues of increased evaluations and service connection due to the appellant's withdrawal of her appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD and headaches are rated at 70 percent from September 9, 2019, to October 26, 2022. The Veteran is granted a rating of 50 percent for his headaches and 30 percent for his dizziness. Service connection for hypertension is established as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's increased ratings for migraine headaches and persistent depressive disorder are denied as their symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, migraine headaches, and right shoulder disability have been granted. The claim for GERD is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine, lumbar spine, and headache conditions are granted. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for left knee instability.

The Veteran's headaches, vestibular disorder, and right upper extremity muscle weakness associated with TBI are all granted. The Veteran is awarded a 30 percent disability rating for his headaches from April 20, 2010 to March 30, 2017, and on and after March 30, 2017. A separate rating of 30 percent is also granted for the Veteran's vestibular disorder. The Veteran's right upper extremity muscle weakness associated with TBI is not rated higher than 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and migraines due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on his military service, with a suggestion that his current conditions are related to his asthma or psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for irregular heartbeat/heart murmur has been implicitly granted by the VA in a March 2024 rating decision. The appeal for this condition is dismissed as moot. The case of service connection for migraines requires further development due to potential exposure to toxic substances during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to May 16, 2006, for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The issues are inextricably intertwined as the TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's current headache disability was first manifest during active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The claims for increased ratings of lumbar strain, left ear hearing loss, left hip flexion, right hip flexion, limited adduction and rotation of the left hip before February 20, 2020, rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of adduction and rotation of the left hip since February 20, 2020, compensable ratings for right hip flexion and limited adduction and rotation of the right hip before February 20, 2020, and service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability are all remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches associated with tinnitus, effective December 19, 2013, is granted. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis disability is rated at 60 percent prior to August 20, 2022. The Board denied an increased rating as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DCs 6600 or 6846.,Service connection was denied for secondary eye disability, muscle weakness, hypertension, and headaches due to sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches with unspecified dizziness and TDIU was denied. The maximum schedular rating has been granted, but the Veteran is not entitled to an extra-schedular evaluation or TDIU due to his employment status.

The Veteran's headaches, GERD and vertigo were not found to be service-connected. Headaches were denied as they are a separate entity from the service-connected disabilities. GERD was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service or service-connected conditions.