Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has not fully considered all the evidence and remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from VA Community Care programs. The issues of rating the Veteran's back pain and migraines are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent from May 29, 2021. The ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities affecting the sciatic nerve are increased to 20 percent each effective May 29, 2021. Ratings higher than 20 percent for these conditions are denied. Separate ratings of 20 percent are granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy with femoral nerve involvement from May 29, 2021. The Veteran's headache disorder is rated at 50 percent effective February 15, 2021.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are being remanded for further evaluation due to his contention that the condition has worsened and he is entitled to a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder is found to have caused his headaches, and the Board grants service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's tinnitus and migraines have been granted service connection.,Service connection for migraines has also been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability of migraines that started in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and migraine headaches due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a TBI, headache disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the failure to provide adequate VA examinations. The Board finds that rescheduling is necessary as the Veteran missed his scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's 30 percent rating for migraine headaches was restored, but the issue of a higher rating remains pending and requires further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any currently manifested tingling in the fingers and/or arms. The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are not considered to be the cause or result of his tingling in the fingers and arms.

The Board has granted service connection for left hand carpal tunnel and de Quervain's syndrome, as well as migraines. The conditions were found to be related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headache disorder is not related to her military service or due to her service-connected IBS with chronic diarrhea, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's ratings for migraines, left knee instability, right knee instability, limitation of left knee extension, and limitation of right knee extension are being remanded due to the need for new examinations. The rating for anxiety disorder is also being remanded.

The Veteran's preexisting TBI was aggravated during active service, and the record does not contain clear and unmistakable evidence that such aggravation was due to the natural progress of the disease. Therefore, service connection for residuals of a TBI, including headaches, is granted.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for headaches, including as secondary to service-connected tinnitus, due to inadequate etiological opinions and lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has decided to vacate the denial of service connection for a headache disorder and remand it due to its inextricability with the previously remanded claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's tension headaches rating has been restored to 30 percent effective April 1, 2017. A separate issue of entitlement to a TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back disability, pinched nerve of the left ring finger/fingertip, chronic neurological disorder claimed as nerve pain, head disorder on the left side, porphyria cutanea tarda (skin disease), vision loss, and headaches have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be prostrating and occurring on average at least once a month after September 14, 2021. The Board grants a 30 percent rating for his headaches starting from that date. Other issues related to the right eye corneal scarring, bilateral optic nerve atrophy, and knee/hip conditions are remanded.