Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for various conditions and service connection issues are being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence. The specific issues include rating adjustments, service connection determinations, and reopening of previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and readjudication due to new evidence added to the record after a previous statement of the case (SOC).

The Veteran's claims for hyperhidrosis, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hemorrhoids were dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection of hemorrhoids was granted.

The Board has determined that effective dates earlier than March 5, 2012 for tinnitus and cervical spine degenerative joint disease are not warranted.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,An initial rating in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a skin condition and sleep disturbances was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.,The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for joint pain and headaches.

The Veteran's service connection for migraine headaches, low back disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted. The Veteran is now rated at 40 percent for his low back disability since July 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's headaches are related to service, including in-service blast injuries, and if they are secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on these issues.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum available rating under the applicable diagnostic code.,The Veteran's rhinitis is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that there is no evidence of polyps or incapacitating episodes warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI, PTSD, headaches, and lumbar spine conditions are being remanded for further evaluation due to the possibility of worsening symptoms since the last examinations in October 2019. The Veteran must be provided with VA examinations to assess the current severity of his conditions.

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

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a disability rating of 50 percent. The claims for respiratory, skin, and nail disabilities are remanded due to insufficient opinions.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for his service-connected headache disability and left forearm scar residuals are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD is dismissed.,Service connection for headaches as secondary to the service-connected cervical spine disability is granted, but a right hip disability and obstructive sleep apnea claims are denied.

The Veteran's chronic headaches have been rated at a maximum of 50 percent prior to October 27, 2020. The Board finds that the Veteran's symptoms are consistent with very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.,For the period from October 27, 2020, his chronic headaches do not warrant a disability rating in excess of the maximum 50 percent under DC 8100. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and hypertension are currently being remanded for further examination.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for a forehead scar, but the Board finds that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether this disability is related to service.,Service connection has also been granted for migraines. The Board notes that the Veteran's claim was originally denied in 2010 due to lack of medical evidence linking his headaches to service. However, a formal application to reopen and new claims were submitted within one year of an Intent to File received on June 9, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, left and right lower leg radiculopathy, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), and headaches. Service connection was denied for prostate disorder.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for left wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board has withdrawn these issues from consideration.

The Veteran's migraines are granted service connection due to exposure to environmental hazards in the Persian Gulf. The cases for left and right knee disabilities are remanded as requested by the Board.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided were inadequate and requires further examination to determine if the Veteran's gastrointestinal problems and migraines are related to his military service, including toxic exposures.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a headache disorder, hypertension, dizziness, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, and sleep disturbances. The hearing loss rating issue is also remanded.