Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding her service-connected myofascial pain syndrome and a neurological disorder (headaches).

The Board has remanded the claims for right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, and hip disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's representative raised a new theory of entitlement that his claimed disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected back and neck disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder. The claims for service connection for migraine headaches and hypertension, both secondary to service-connected conditions, are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's headaches. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if his current hand/wrist disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for migraine headaches has been withdrawn. Service connection for PTSD and adjustment disorder, unspecified, is granted. The denial of a compensable initial disability rating for IgA nephropathy with hypertension remains unchanged. Bilateral plantar fasciitis and cervical spine disability are both remanded for further review.,The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis has been remanded due to unclear findings from the July 2018 VA examination regarding the right foot condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches secondary to his cervical spine disability is granted. Other issues are remanded, and the effective date of TDIU is set prior to February 23, 2018.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether current migraines are related to service, and thus grants service connection on a direct basis.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted as service connected.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.

The Veteran's hypertension, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus have been granted service connection. However, the initial compensable rating for hypertension has been denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a sinus disorder is denied due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria for these conditions during or approximate to the appeal period.,The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun during service and has been continuous since then, granting service connection. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is also granted.,Service connection for bilateral eye disorder, sleep disorder (including insomnia and sleep apnea), headache disorder, thyroid disorder, and respiratory disorder remains pending as remanded by the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates due to a failure of the RO to fully assist the Veteran with his claim, specifically regarding evidence from 2014. The RO is instructed to seek any and all records related to the Veteran's 2014 claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a back disorder. The claims for service connection for other conditions are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle, left ankle, right foot, and left foot disorders as well as migraines due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for CFS, thyroid disorder, COPD, OSA, headaches, and a GI disorder are denied. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.,Service connection for CFS was not granted as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or relationship to service. Service connection for a thyroid disorder was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service, including exposure to contaminants in Southwest Asia and inoculations.,COPD, OSA, and headaches were pending remand for additional etiological opinions considering the Veteran's reported exposures to burn pits and other environmental factors during his military service. Service connection for a GI disorder is also pending as there are no current diagnoses or clear evidence of a relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for headaches due to a lack of consideration of his lay testimony regarding symptomatology and self-medication, as well as the potential aggravation by service-connected disabilities. The case is now returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain missing service treatment records and VA treatment records, as well as to schedule the Veteran for a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied, while his service connection claims were granted. The Veteran was awarded a TDIU.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from July 14, 2016 to December 20, 2016 due to his service-connected psychiatric and heart disabilities. Prior to this period, the criteria for a TDIU were not met as he could still secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and right leg sciatica. The Veteran's migraine headaches and vertigo have been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and headaches due to issues with obtaining service treatment records from Orlando Navy Medical Clinic. The VA will make additional efforts to obtain these records.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of residuals of traumatic brain injury, migraine headaches before May 2, 2020, and hyposmia associated with TBI are being remanded due to the lack of updated VA medical records.