Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for post traumatic headaches and PTSD with TBI, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the prior January 2021 decision. The AOJ is instructed to correct these errors by obtaining VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's TBI, GERD, headaches, ED, right knee arthritis, left hip strain, and right hip strain are all granted service connection.,Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is also granted as secondary to right knee arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of headaches was granted with an effective date of May 19, 2021. The TDIU claim is also granted with the same effective date.,PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since July 7, 2023, and a higher rating is denied for PTSD prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of examinations and etiology opinions regarding the Veteran's back condition, right leg condition, left ankle condition, and headaches. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded both claims of service connection for sleep apnea and migraines due to the need for new medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for cluster headaches and hypertension due to incomplete service treatment records. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined and will be considered after the increased rating claims are addressed.

The Veteran's challenge to the proposed reduction of his disability rating for migraine headaches from 30 percent to zero percent is dismissed because it was not a decision on the merits.

Your claims for service connection and increased rating have been dismissed as you filed a Supplemental Claim before filing your Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine and tension headaches are being remanded for a more comprehensive evaluation to determine the current severity of his symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disorder and headaches, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on direct evidence of a link between the conditions and service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic sinusitis and headaches as there is no current disability found.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches and a disability of the neck, upper back, and/or cervical spine is being remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination. The Veteran has not established service connection for her claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disorder, finding no current diagnosis of such a condition and thus unable to establish service connection on either direct or secondary basis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headache disability as secondary to his service-connected neck disability, finding that the current disability is related to and aggravated by the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on various service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of these cases.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on his migraine headaches and GERD is denied. The Veteran's PTSD with TBI claim is remanded to obtain additional VA records.

The appeal to reduce the disability rating for service-connected migraines from 30 percent disabling to noncompensable is dismissed because the proposed reduction was not a final action by the AOJ.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of November 13, 2020, for his grant of TDIU. The Board found that the proper effective date was August 20, 2021, based on the date of receipt of the claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his employment status and income during the relevant period, particularly for 2022 and 2023.

The Board has decided that an evaluation greater than 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. The claims of service connection for headaches secondary to tinnitus and for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including stress, sleep problems, trouble concentrating, fatigue, memory problems, depression, anxiety, and irritability as secondary to headaches or tinnitus are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.