Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the diabetes mellitus, umbilical hernia, and right eyelid condition issues. The Veteran's migraine headaches and acquired psychiatric condition (including MDD and PTSD) have been granted.,Issues related to spastic duodenal bulb, asthma, bilateral hips, bilateral feet, hiatal hernia, bilateral knees, skin condition, left finger, bilateral elbows, bilateral hands, malaria symptoms, lazy esophageal sphincter, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, ischemic colitis, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), diverticulitis, low back, and neck conditions have been remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a hearing request are being remanded due to the need for additional records, including treatment from VA facilities, private providers, and police reports related to his confinement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities from November 17, 2015. The appeal is granted.

The appeal seeking to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability with headaches is granted. The issue of service connection for the cervical spine disability and headaches (on the merits) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headache disability, finding that his headaches started in service and have continued since then. The decision is based on the Veteran's consistent reports of experiencing headaches during active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hand, ankle, and foot conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence showing that these conditions were incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for headaches, service connection for insomnia, right hand condition, left ankle condition, and shin splints have been granted. The application to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for left-sided numbness has been denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder with chronic sleep impairment is granted secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The Board also found that the Veteran's hypertension, migraines, vertigo, left knee disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right ankle disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right foot disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), left foot disorders (including left ankle sprain and right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis), right leg varicose veins, and left wrist disorder are also granted secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is reopened, but service connection remains denied.,The Veteran's right foot disorder claim is reopened, but service connection remains denied.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted based on chronicity of symptoms after separation from service.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not support a link to service.,Service connection for left foot disorder is denied due to lack of in-service event, injury or disease.,Service connection for cervical spine disorder is remanded.,Small bowel intussusception claim is remanded.,Headache disorder (including migraine and tension) claim is remanded.,Thoracolumbar spine disorder claim is remanded.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy claim is remanded.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy claim is remanded.,Erectile dysfunction claim is remanded.,Undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (claimed as right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, etc.) claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of his service-connected residuals of traumatic brain injury and migraine headaches is granted, effective from May 24, 2016. However, the TDIU claim is denied as the Veteran has been found to be able to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of headaches is remanded due to incomplete development. Additional opinions are needed regarding the relationship between his service-connected disabilities and his current headaches, including whether they are related to sinusitis caused by environmental exposures in service.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and evaluations are necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and other issues. The Veteran is being asked to provide updated treatment records and undergo VA examinations to determine the severity of his right shoulder condition, nature and etiology of his headaches, forehead scar, back condition, and bilateral knee conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and dismissed the remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for a heart condition, left-hand disability, right-hand disability, fatigue, tension headaches, and gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for migraines, vertigo, and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran must be provided with new VA medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of his migraine disability, vertigo disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for post concussive headaches and has remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected traumatic brain injury.

The Board has denied service connection for a left ankle disability and remanded the issue of rating migraine headaches in excess of 30%. The Veteran's claim is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal for all issues.

The Veteran's right knee disability, cervical spine disability, migraine headache disability as secondary to service-connected cervical spine disability, and urinary urgency disability as secondary to unspecified anxiety disorder are all granted.,The appeal for teeth grinding has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's rhinitis without polyps and chronic sinusitis have been remanded for further evaluation. The issue of service connection for an undiagnosed illness involving the respiratory system has also been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for migraine headaches due to a lack of a VA examination, which is required when there are symptoms of a disability that may be associated with service. The Veteran's representative will need to request an examination and provide any necessary treatment records.