Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for headaches, neck disability, and back disability due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's heart disorder is denied as not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals for additional development due to missing documents within the claims file, including additional evidentiary submissions or statements by the Veteran. The matter must be remanded in order to ensure compliance with the Board’s remand instructions.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for service-connected migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's migraines are more nearly manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of one in two months over the last several months.

Your claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and tension headaches have been granted. The appeal is dismissed as the benefits sought are no longer in dispute.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now entitled to benefits for a headache disorder, right hip disability, and irritable bowel syndrome. Additionally, his hearing loss has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and headaches due to insufficient evidence. The appellant's attorney submitted private medical opinions indicating that his PTSD may aggravate his obstructive sleep apnea, but a VA examination is needed to determine if this relationship exists. For headaches, the examiner found them caused by multiple conditions including PTSD, sleep apnea, and hypertension, but more information is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for alopecia areata, dry scalp, chronic fatigue with headaches, and headaches due to unclear medical evidence regarding whether the dry scalp is a symptom of hair loss or a separate condition. The Board also found that a VA examination was necessary to determine if the Veteran’s headaches were related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial rating for TBI residuals is denied as the highest level of impairment (1) does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's compensable rating for vascular headaches is denied due to less frequent prostrating attacks than required by the criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 25, 2009 for the grant of a 40 percent rating for headaches status post head injury is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist distal forearm fracture is denied.,The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than June 3, 2009 for the grant of service connection for right hand peripheral neuropathy and a rating in excess of 20 percent are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with TBI is remanded.,The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for headaches status post head injury prior to August 5, 2019 and a rating in excess of 50 percent for post-traumatic migraine headaches beginning on August 12, 2019 are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, including migraines, finding that there was no causal relationship between his current headache disorder and active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected cluster headaches was granted, with an effective date of September 11, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic migraines are now rated at 50 percent, effective March 31, 2016. The issue of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to March 31, 2016 is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and retrospective medical opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, which prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's fatigue and night sweats disabilities. The claims of service connection for tension headaches, fatigue, and night sweats are currently pending.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches and panic disorder are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board denied increased ratings for both conditions as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on their current symptoms.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation of his psychiatric disability was denied. A separate evaluation for posttraumatic tension headaches was granted.

The Veteran's initial claim for a rating of 30 percent for service-connected migraine headaches prior to August 16, 2018 was granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for this condition from that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for gastrointestinal cancer and headache disorder due to insufficient evidence. The claim for service connection for gastrointestinal cancer on a direct basis is denied, while the claims for secondary service connection and headaches are being reviewed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for GERD, chronic fatigue, and headaches due to Gulf War Syndrome are granted.,The Board found that the Veteran has objective indications of these conditions as qualifying chronic disabilities due to undiagnosed illness or MUCMI.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left ankle disorders, knee disorders, flatfeet, hypertension, headaches, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.