Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is remanded. The claims for hypertension, migraine headaches, drug and alcohol abuse disorder, sinusitis, and head injury/TBI are also remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain and migraine headaches are granted service connection. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD and depression), migraines secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep apnea secondary to migraine disorder. The Veteran's hearing loss is not rated higher than 0%.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left and right shoulder disabilities, neck disability (claimed as thoracic outlet syndrome), asthma, dystonic jerks/tremors, Horner's syndrome, phrenic nerve palsy, vasospasms, recurrent neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome/complex regional pain syndrome/recurrent pectoris minor syndrome, muscle tension dysphagia, and occipital migraines have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine with light sensitivity, cubital tunnel syndrome of the right arm, angioneurotic edema, a right hand/finger condition to include spasm, and a left hand/finger condition to include spasms due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases of tension headaches and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability. The decision on service connection remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for migraines, currently rated at 30 percent, is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that has not been considered by the AOJ.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's headache condition, hypertension, and GERD are each remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's service connection claims for a headache condition, hypertension, and GERD are remanded due to the inextricability of these issues with his acquired psychiatric disorder claim.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for an examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and needs further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient reasoning in a prior decision regarding his claimed in-service assault and its impact on his current disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury and related headaches, finding that there are no current residuals of a service-connected TBI.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence regarding her need for aid and attendance or housebound SMC based on her service-connected disabilities. The AOJ must obtain any outstanding treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance is remanded as a full examination is required to assess the severity of her service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection for headaches. The case will be returned for a new VA opinion.

The Board denied service connection for migraines as the Veteran's pre-existing condition did not worsen during service, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it was aggravated.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the issues on appeal due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection remains pending.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are necessary to address the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their current severity, as well as to determine the nature and etiology of his headaches and bilateral hearing loss. The issues have been remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for migraines and GERD, as well as service connection for hypertension, are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions. The issue of entitlement to total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) has also been raised by the record.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected dizziness, post-traumatic headaches, left S1 radiculopathy, and cervical strain are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations. The outcome of these claims will impact the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) due to the need of aid and attendance.