Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for migraine headaches and COPD have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for right ear hearing loss was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus severing it. Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on exposure to military acoustic trauma during service. Service connection for a headache disorder (to include migraine and migraine variants) is also granted.

The Veteran's appeals for right hip disorder, depression, anxiety and trouble sleeping, headaches, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right foot disorder and left foot disorder due to a lack of VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The TDIU claim was part and parcel of his increased evaluation claim for mental health disabilities, which he filed in October 2020. As a result, the effective date remains September 8, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case for further action regarding a rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected migraine with ocular component on an extraschedular basis. The other issues related to effective dates and TDIU have been resolved.

The Board denied service connection for tension headaches as secondary to a service-connected disability because the Veteran's claimed condition is not related to her service-connected left shoulder tendonitis, shoulder strain, or tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for vertigo, left foot condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, left hip condition, and right hip condition due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's service connection for headaches is granted, and the effective date for her adjustment disorder with depressed mood is denied.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 50 percent for migraine and an earlier effective date of March 29, 2019, for the grant of service connection. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's migraine headaches are caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus and service connection for diabetes, headache disorder, sleep apnea, GERD, and PTSD has been dismissed.,Service connection claims for headache disorder, sleep apnea, and PTSD have also been dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for her service-connected migraine headaches and left knee medial plica excision was denied. The Veteran had a noncompensable rating for migraines since October 1, 2001, but the Board found no evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks to warrant a higher rating. For the left knee condition, she received a 10 percent disability rating effective October 1, 2018, and the Board did not find any basis for an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dysthymic disorder, heatstroke-related migraines, and low back strain with degenerative disc disease and arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the combined effects of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the timeliness of his request to opt into the AMA system is dismissed as moot because he received an HLR as requested.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent for migraines from February 19, 2021, to January 18, 2022. The effective date for service connection is set at February 19, 2021.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension, and the case is remanded to assess whether headaches, dizziness, and sleep apnea are secondary to service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include an acquired psychiatric disability, headaches secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability, and a sleep disorder secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's sinus headaches have been granted an initial rating of 30 percent, effective January 15, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran's headaches meet the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating based on their frequency and severity.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain a VA examination for the Veteran's claimed migraine headaches. The Veteran will need to provide information about her medical providers and any relevant records, and she may be scheduled for an examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for migraine headaches due to a duty to assist error and requests an additional VA medical opinion.