Migraines & headaches decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraines, ingrown toenails (right foot), and TMJ dysfunction have been granted. The claims for right ankle condition, left ankle condition, scar on the right leg, and low back condition are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records of the Veteran's Reserve service, which were not obtained. The Veteran contends his migraines, neck condition, and lumbar spine condition are related to a motor vehicle accident in 1983 during reserve training.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches should be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the January 2022 VA opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected migraine headaches has been granted, with the disability rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his headaches are denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to June 19, 2019, for a 50 percent disability rating for service-connected migraine headaches as it is a freestanding claim that cannot be addressed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including alcohol use in sustained remission, other specified depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder is attributable to service. The head injury with headaches claim is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC HB was denied as the evidence did not show that he met the criteria for SMC HB based on his service-connected disabilities and unemployability.

The Veteran's headaches, hypertension, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were not found to be related to his active service.,There is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after the Veteran's separation from service.

The appeal for service connection for recurrent rhinitis and tension headaches has been dismissed.,The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which is the highest rating available.

The Veteran's headaches, GERD, and severe anxiety are being remanded for further review due to potential service connection under the PACT Act. The VA will attempt to obtain private treatment records from Dr. F. and provide a VA examination for GERD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for headaches was dismissed as he withdrew the appeal in October 2023.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including TBI, vertigo, sleep apnea, and neurological impairment of the upper and lower extremities due to cold exposure, have been dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran does not have these conditions or their claimed causes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for residuals of postoperative right knee lateral collateral ligament strain remains at 10 percent, while other conditions are either not granted or remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, shortness of breath, migraine headaches, and insomnia (claimed as sleep disorder) have been denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for shortness of breath due to a service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder with traumatic brain injury. Service connection has also been granted for migraine headaches and insomnia (claimed as sleep disorder).

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 9, 2009, for service connection of ocular migraines was denied. The appeal for a higher initial rating for left shoulder impingement syndrome, strain, rotator cuff tendinosis and dislocation from September 17, 2009, is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected migraine headaches was remanded due to the lack of a proper medical opinion regarding the current state and severity of his condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus and elbow/shoulder disabilities, respectively. The decision is based on a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to the service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because he is already receiving a total schedular rating for his service-connected disabilities, and no single disability alone establishes unemployability.