Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Barrett's esophagus, headaches, and a back condition are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA examiners failed to consider all relevant evidence and provide reasoned rationales.

The Veteran's migraines are now rated at 50 percent effective December 9, 2015. The initial rating for PTSD is also 50 percent effective January 6, 2015.,Both conditions meet the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating throughout their respective appeal periods.

The appeal for service connection of chronic sinusitis is dismissed as the condition was already established in a previous rating decision. The appeals for migraine headaches and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected migraines was denied as the evidence did not show characteristic prostrating attacks of migraine or non-migraine headache pain, which are required for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Headache and Sleep Apnea due to potential secondary effects from his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, coronary artery disease (CAD), and exposure to Gulf War substances. The appeal is also related to the PACT Act.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, but has remanded the issue of a higher rating for migraine headaches due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 50% disability rating since October 1, 2019. The Board found that the evidence supports this rating based on very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for OSA, unspecified anxiety disorder, ED, migraine headaches, seizure disorder, fatigue, and sleep disturbance.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of IBS due to untimely filing. The Veteran's migraine headaches were denied an increased rating as they did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning several service connection and rating issues, including for tension headaches, bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, arthritis, cervical spine strain with degenerative disc disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, left ankle fracture, right ankle fracture, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for migraines is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the November 2021 VA examination. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error has occurred and requires another evaluation.

The Veteran's entitlement to service connection for insomnia is denied, but he is granted service connection for headaches, claimed as migraine.

The Veteran's appeals for ratings related to migraine headaches and traumatic brain injury residuals have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is secondary to his service-connected bilateral tinnitus, depression, migraines, and bilateral shin splints. The claim for service connection for OSA is granted.

The Board has found that the AOJ made errors in obtaining medical records and did not clarify the Veteran's claims for service connection. The case is being remanded to correct these issues.

The Veteran's claims for compensable disability ratings for allergic rhinitis, IBS with gastritis, migraine headaches, and thyroid disability have all been denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, low back pain, and headaches due to a lack of diagnosed or identifiable disabilities at the time of the June 1995 rating decisions. The AOJ applied then-binding law which held that pain alone without a diagnosed condition is not sufficient for VA compensation purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for unspecified depressive disorder, OSA, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are currently rated at 70 percent, 50 percent, and 30 percent respectively.

The Veteran's appeal to reduce the rating for migraines from 50% to 30% was dismissed because it was premature and did not allege specific error of fact or law in the determination being appealed.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disability and an initial rating of 10 percent for TBI residuals. The headaches are considered directly related to the Veteran's in-service head injury, while the TBI residuals warrant a 10 percent rating.