Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's migraine headaches, finding that they are related to presumed in-service military environmental exposure during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraines and left wrist sprain were denied. The Board found that the increase in severity of her service-connected migraines was not ascertainable within a year prior to the receipt of her claim, thus denying an effective date prior to November 9, 2021, for the award of a 50 percent rating for migraines.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disability and gastrointestinal disorder, including GERD. The VA will need to obtain relevant private treatment records and provide an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for new examination opinions. The claims will be reconsidered with the additional evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for migraines and remanded the claim of service connection for hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tension headaches is denied. The Veteran's lumbar spine strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy claims are remanded, while the left shoulder AC joint separation and PTSD claims remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ should secure an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's total service-connected disabilities, including loss of use of extremities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for migraines secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, finding that there is not a causal relationship between the two conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches is granted. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, migraines, nerve damage-related right hemidiaphragm, degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of August 26, 2009, for the award of service connection for unspecified mental disorder due to another medical condition is granted.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic headache has been denied as there is no evidence to suggest he filed another claim prior to March 7, 2022. The effective date for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic headaches is set at March 7, 2022.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for nasal polyposis and chronic headaches (secondary to nasal surgery) associated with nasal polyposis due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and headaches, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of a chronic headache disability, neck disability, and increased rating greater than 20 percent for back disability. The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD with cannabis use disorder, effective April 14, 2015.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 30 percent, but the right shoulder disability remains at 20 percent. The appeal for a higher rating on the right shoulder is denied.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the service-connected headaches and has found that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU based on his combined service-connected disabilities. The headaches are rated as they impact the Veteran's ability to work, while PTSD also contributes to his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals related to increased ratings, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for dental and oral conditions, depression with social anxiety condition and sleep disturbances, and service connection for left and right leg radiculopathy and migraines.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities due to outstanding private treatment records. The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at the maximum schedular rating.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for headaches, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's current headache disability is related to his in-service head injury or his service-connected low back disability. The VA will need to obtain any outstanding medical records and provide a new examination to determine if there is a nexus between the Veteran's headaches and his military service.