Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service connection claims for Traumatic Brain Injury, Headaches, and Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (to include Depression and PTSD) have been dismissed. Service connection for Polysubstance Abuse / Dependence (alcohol and cannabis), secondary to his service-connected PTSD with depression, has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that his current headache disorder is less likely than not related to service or his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for Polycythemia Vera and Migraines were reopened based on the submission of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the effective date of his award has been set at July 21, 2009. The claim for an earlier effective date was dismissed.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The claims for a skin disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), left foot disability, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are all remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues related to scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's service-connected migraines. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for any private treatment records and must attend the scheduled VA examination.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at a 50 percent rating since January 9, 2017. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis have been granted. The claim for unstable angina and arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) has been denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a headache disability is granted. The Veteran's right thumb arthritis and right index finger metacarpophalangeal joint arthritis are both rated at the highest available levels.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his right thumb arthritis is denied as he is already receiving the maximum disability rating allowed under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of head trauma is granted, with a separate rating assigned for headaches. The current 10 percent rating is based on mild impairment in memory, attention, concentration, and executive functions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and migraine headaches has been dismissed.,The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at no more than 20 percent from June 1, 2014 to November 24, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand prior to September 23, 2017 was denied. The Board found that there is insufficient evidence to show mild incomplete paralysis of the median nerve.,For tension headaches, the Veteran received a 30 percent rating effective June 30, 2017. The claim for a higher rating prior to September 23, 2017 was remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for TBI-related migraine headaches, left knee disability, and low back disability have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's rhinitis is granted as service-connected due to exposure to fine particulate matter during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The Veteran's headaches are remanded for further evaluation, including consideration of their relationship to his service-connected insomnia disorder.