Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, including as secondary to his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the current tension headache disability and active service or to the service-connected GERD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD with anxiety, low back strain with L-5 spinal stenosis, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are denied. The claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, left lower extremity disorder, psychiatric disorders (including PTSD), sleep disorder, and headaches have been denied. The Board has not yet examined the Veteran regarding these issues.

The Veteran's migraine headaches and insomnia disorder have been granted higher initial ratings of 30 percent each since March 1, 2019. The evidence shows that the migraines cause frequent but not severe economic inadaptability, while the insomnia disorder causes occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sleep apnea, and migraines, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal as to the October 2018 decision that granted a separate noncompensable rating for a headache disability is valid. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for a headache disability must be remanded for issuance of a SOC.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined issue of increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities. The VA will address these issues before making a final decision on the TDIU.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's posttraumatic headaches, finding that his symptoms are characterized by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an enlarged lymph nodes disorder of the left neck, submandibular, cervical, and left apical areas was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for connective tissue disorder (SLE), seborrhea of the scalp, post-operative left inguinal hernia, and headaches were also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for abdominal pain, bladder discomfort, kidney pain, breathing problems, fatigue, headaches, and numbness of upper and lower extremities due to in-service exposure. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's migraines were granted an initial rating of 30 percent prior to March 5, 2013.,An initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraines since March 5, 2013 is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for TDIU, initial PTSD rating prior to December 23, 2019, neck disability service connection, and migraine headaches secondary to a neck disability.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims but denied others. The Veteran's hyperlipidemia claim is denied, while his fuzzy vision, headaches, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right arm pain, and left wrist disorder claims are granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for depression, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are denied. The claim for an increased rating for migraines is remanded.,The Veteran’s service-connected depression is currently rated at 50 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code (DC) 9411. Her claims for left and right knee disabilities are both rated at 10 percent under DCs 5260 and 5260, respectively. The claim for migraines effective August 16, 2016 is currently rated at 50 percent under DC 8100.,The Veteran's service-connected migraines are currently rated at 50 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code (DC) 8100 effective August 16, 2016. Her claims for increased ratings for depression and knee disabilities remain pending.

The Veteran's cluster headaches are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that her condition does not warrant a higher rating as her attacks do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and pseudofolliculitis barbae, as well as his claims of service connection for arthritis, sinusitis, a cervical spine disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) are denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, sinusitis, a cervical spine disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) are remanded.

The Veteran's son, J.T., is seeking recognition as the 'helpless child' based on his permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching age 18. The Board has ordered a remand due to insufficient evidence regarding J.T.'s ability to support himself before turning 18.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for constipation and headaches due to insufficient opinions from VA examiners regarding direct service connection, including consideration of environmental exposures in Southwest Asia.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for headaches due to insufficient medical opinion and need for additional development.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is granted as service connected, with the presumption of continuity of symptoms since service.,Service connection for bilateral athlete’s foot is granted based on a finding that it had its onset in service and is etiologically related to service. The Veteran was diagnosed with athlete’s foot during service and continued experiencing symptoms after separation.,The Veteran's tension headaches are granted as service connected, with the presumption of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.