Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 23, 2013, for the award of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder and migraine headaches was denied.,An initial rating greater than 50 percent for migraine headaches is also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disorder as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with insomnia, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence supporting this determination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including post-concussive headaches, unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder with situational phobias, and TBI. The VA examiner must provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines are now rated at 50 percent, effective November 7, 2021.,The Veteran's service-connected IBS is now rated at 30 percent, effective November 7, 2021.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for left knee condition, back condition, and frequent migraines due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches and gastrointestinal reflux disease (claimed as a stomach condition) have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had current disabilities, experienced symptoms in service, and there was a relationship between his conditions and service.

The Board has determined that there are missing service records and the RO did not obtain all relevant information. The case is being remanded to ensure all available records are obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, secondary to his service-connected PTSD, was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower radiculopathy with tibialis anterior weakness was also denied as the evidence did not show an increase in severity beyond what is currently rated.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of service connection for migraines due to untimely filing. Service connection for vertigo is granted as it is directly related to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU related to his service-connected headache disorder are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from non-VA providers.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for tension headaches, multi-level DDD, cervical spine (neck condition secondary to facial nerve palsy), right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate examination findings. The VA will schedule a new examination to address these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), headaches as secondary to service-connected tinnitus, and insomnia due to service-connected disabilities. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported symptoms and diagnoses provided by medical professionals.

The Board has denied service connection for high cholesterol, sciatica prior to July 8, 2022, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), TMJ, GERD, CFS, bilateral ankle disabilities, tinnitus, headaches prior to December 29, 2023, insomnia with unrestful sleep, and a mental health disorder. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran was granted TDIU effective June 1, 2019. The Board finds that the AOJ failed to consider her specific job requirements and limitations caused by service-connected disabilities prior to May 1, 2019. Therefore, a remand is necessary for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed headache disability and therefore, cannot establish service connection for headaches.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's request for a higher-level review of his August 2022 decision because it was concurrent with another request, and such concurrent requests are prohibited by law.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 30 percent rating, effective September 15, 2021. The Board found that the Veteran's migraines meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating due to characteristic prostrating attacks occurring once a month over several months.

The Veteran's headaches are not considered secondary to his service-connected bilateral tinnitus disability.,The Veteran's dizziness is also not considered secondary to his service-connected bilateral tinnitus disability.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of September 24, 2018 for his total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to a combination of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's headaches, which were characterized by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, are now rated at the highest possible level (50%) effective May 25, 2022.