Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus and a headache condition due to inadequate VA opinions and the need for addendum opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding delayed onset of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches as secondary to TMJ and for an acquired skin condition, including actinic keratoses, dysplastic nevi, keratinocyte atypia, slight hyperplasia of single melanocytes, seborrheic keratosis, solar elastosis and porokeratosis (claimed as melanoma and skin cancer), due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from March 23, 2021, to March 9, 2022. From March 10, 2022, the Veteran is in receipt of a combined 100% rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for migraine headaches is granted at a 30 percent level. The claims of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, right leg shin splints, and left leg shin splints are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for the issue of migraine headaches has been dismissed due to a request for withdrawal by his attorney.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for headaches has been dismissed because the Veteran and his representative withdrew their appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's request for higher-level review was timely submitted, and thus the appeal is considered valid. The VA denied service connection for various conditions in a previous rating decision, but the Board found that the Veteran's submission of his request for higher-level review was timely.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him wheelchair bound and in need of nursing home care, regular aid and attendance to prepare his meals, assist with bathing and hygiene needs, and manage medication. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance but dismissed the claim for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate as moot.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for a back disability, migraine headaches, and traumatic brain injury residuals. The case will be remanded to allow for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's cervical neck strain is currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 2021.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain was granted a 20 percent rating from January 4, 2021, to September 30, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, sterility, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, and migraine have been remanded due to the need for further review of the evidence.,Claims for cervical strain, lumbar strain, right knee condition, left knee condition, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, sterility, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, and migraine have been remanded due to the need for further review of the evidence.,Claims for cervical strain, lumbar strain, right knee condition, left knee condition, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are also being remanded.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for migraine headaches, finding that June 4, 2018, is the earliest possible effective date as it was the date of the Veteran's initial claim.

The Board has remanded the claims of earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to January 10, 2013.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches and low back disability due to inadequate examinations and potential TERA exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a cervical spine strain, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board found that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

Service connection for a headache disability and hypertension has been granted.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, and hemorrhoids to include as secondary to GERD have also been granted.,The earlier effective date claims for left knee instability and right shoulder disability were dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, type II, and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection based on direct service connection or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches, cervical spine disability, and right upper extremity radiculopathy, have prevented her from securing or following substantially gainful employment since July 11, 2017.