Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, tinnitus, residuals of a ganglion scar, sarcoidosis, and headaches, precluded him from securing substantially gainful employment prior to October 11, 2016. As such, TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, TBI, headaches, right knee disorder, right shoulder condition, and neck pain are denied as they have already been addressed in his grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, claimed as cervical strain with muscle pain and arthritis, is granted.,The Veteran's chronic right trapezius disorder is granted.,The Veteran's headaches are secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.

The appeal for service connection for organ damage (Stephens-Johnson Syndrome) is dismissed. Service connection for residuals of brain lesion with craniotomy, migraine headaches, and strokes are granted on a secondary basis due to the residual effects of the brain surgery. Service connection for a surgical scar on the right side of scalp is also granted on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined issues and additional evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is being considered together with a separate cervical spine disorder claim, as well as an existing psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim for further development and consideration of new evidence received since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for Lyme disease and remanded all associated issues due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's TBI rating from 40% to 10% was improper and void ab initio. The issue of increased ratings for migraines prior to May 29, 2020, and in excess of 30% thereafter is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and an inadequate previous examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70% rating prior to July 23, 2021. The claim for a 100% rating for PTSD is denied. Issues of service connection for bilateral flat feet and lipomas are remanded. Tension headaches and TDIU claims are also remanded.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period prior to August 9, 2016. For the period between August 9, 2016 and October 1, 2017, the weight of evidence did not support a finding that any other service-connected disability prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address whether his low back disability and headache disorder are related to his service-connected right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and/or bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), headache disorder, left leg pain, tingling in the left foot, low back disorder, bilateral foot swelling, and sinus disorder.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of vascular headaches, back disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The current rating decisions do not address the assigned ratings or effective dates.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, headaches, and a cervical spine disability due to the lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or related to military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and evaluations of various conditions have been dismissed. The appeal for a separate compensable rating for chronic sinusitis with headaches is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS was granted with an effective date of November 25, 2017.,Her claim to reopen her service connection for headaches was granted. The Board found that new and material evidence had been received and the claim could be reopened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional evidence. The Veteran is requested to provide information about his current treatment, including from VA facilities and private providers. A new examination is needed for both head injury/TBI and headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a psychiatric disability, headaches, a cervical spine disability, and a right foot disability due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and missing records, particularly regarding the Veteran's head injury and headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims for a compensable rating for TBI, service connection for right shoulder, thoracolumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities as secondary to service-connected disabilities, and service connection for headaches as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to non-compliance with prior remand directives.