Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches on the basis of an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness pursuant to the provisions of 38 U.S.C. � 1117 based on their presence in the Southwest Asia theater of operations is granted.

The appeal of the issues related to right hip disorder, left shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, low back disorder, GERD, and residuals of head injury (including TBI and headaches) has been dismissed as the Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal.

The Veteran's migraine disability is granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective March 29, 2018.,PTSD is granted a 70 percent evaluation with an effective date of March 29, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal includes requests for service connection for various conditions, including throat pain and indigestion, GERD with hiatal hernia, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), joint pain, joint swelling, neck pain, muscle cramps, dizziness and lightheadedness, cold symptoms, cold toes, abdominal pain, white patches on skin, rashes and hives, and hypersomnolence. These requests are being remanded for further review.,The Veteran's appeal also includes a request for an increased rating for migraine headaches, which has been granted with a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for TDIU and DEA were denied as his service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable within the one-year lookback period prior to September 18, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to address the nature and etiology of his headaches, allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, and left eye keratoconjunctivitis sicca with epiphora. The appeals for compensable disability ratings and a higher rating are also remanded.

Service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, and migraine headaches prior to February 14, 2019 is denied.,The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are currently rated as 30 percent disabling prior to February 14, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and granted for a psychiatric disorder. Service connection is also granted for a skin disability.,CFS, bilateral shoulder/wrist/elbow/hand disabilities, headaches, and gastrointestinal issues are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability and its relationship to his service-connected disabilities, as well as any environmental exposures.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraines are being remanded due to the submission of additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being associated with the claims file after the initial transfer of records. The Veteran was not provided an opportunity to waive AOJ review, and additional treatment records were added without consideration in the December 2023 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, depression (secondary to physical conditions/persistent migraine headaches), recurrent sinusitis and rhinitis with mucus retention cyst, and status post hemorrhoidectomy has been granted. The rating for the status post hemorrhoidectomy remains at noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected migraine headache disorder is denied as the current 50 percent rating adequately compensates for his symptoms. His claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance of another is dismissed as moot due to already receiving maximum benefits.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The neck scar and headaches remain rated as noncompensable, while the left shoulder condition is still rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the TDIU issue for development and adjudication, as it is part of the underlying service connection claim. The case will be referred to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration due to the Veteran's unemployability primarily due to his service-connected psychiatric disorder from April 17, 2018, through August 23, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee meniscal tear was denied as the flexion limitation did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the Veteran's service-connected conditions not preventing him from obtaining and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial rating for migraines is granted at a 50 percent, but the hip condition issue is remanded due to lack of medical opinion.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for headaches, which were secondary to service-connected major depression disorder (MDD), was denied. Her claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The left shoulder disorder claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and headache disorder, including consideration of private x-rays from 1990 and chiropractic records. The case will be remanded for these purposes.