Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, including migraine headaches, is granted due to the evidence being at least in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran incurred a TBI during active service and has current residuals thereof.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a head injury, including headaches and memory issues, is being remanded due to the need for further examination and medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a headache disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, as secondary to his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI). The reasons include unclear medical opinions and missing VA treatment records. A new examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional development and clarification of medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, memory loss, back disability, headache disability, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The issues include service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hip and knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's lay statements indicate significant limitations, and a VA examiner provided an opinion linking early onset traumatic arthritis to the Veteran’s history of parachuting during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for tension headaches associated with TBI, finding that his headaches do not rise to the level of prostrating attacks occurring one in two months over the last several months.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are not ready for final decision due to incomplete development, including obtaining additional medical records and clarifying the number of scars status post lumbar spine surgery. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.,Additional examination is required to determine if the Veteran’s unspecified depressive disorder is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s headaches are due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's sleep disturbance (including sleep apnea and insomnia) claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s athlete's foot is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia with bilateral leg pain claims require an additional VA examination to determine if it is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s hypertension is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's right knee disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's left knee disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claims require an additional VA examination to determine if they are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,The Veteran's skin rash on face and head claims require an additional VA examination to determine if it is due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran’s gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is related to his in-service exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, specifically being 'often' exposed to sand/dust and smoke from oil fire.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and residuals of traumatic brain injury disabilities, which arise from the same etiology, satisfy the schedular criteria for TDIU as of January 24, 2014. The Board also found that prior to this date, his total disability rating did not meet the schedular criteria for entitlement to TDIU. The claim for extraschedular TDIU prior to January 24, 2014 is remanded.

The Board has withdrawn the issues of service connection for low testosterone and entitlement to an effective date earlier than June 20, 2013 for service connection for glaucoma. The remaining issues have been REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of neck disorder, right knee condition secondary to left knee disability, and migraines have been granted. The right shoulder disorder claim has not met the criteria for reopening.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's missing service medical records and conduct further examinations to address his claims for various joint, muscle, neurological, cardiovascular, hearing, and tinnitus conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, migraines and tension headaches associated with TBI, and TBI were denied as the effective dates assigned are the earliest allowed by law.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were rated at a 50% evaluation from January 22, 2016. The Board found that the frequency and severity of her attacks during March 17, 2011 through January 21, 2016 was very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hysterectomy residuals, migraine headaches (including as secondary to hearing loss and hysterectomy), and SMC due to loss of use of a creative organ are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for migraines and residuals of a head injury due to their potential impact on the TDIU claim. The Veteran's statements about his in-service head injury are considered sufficient to trigger an examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for stomach disability, headaches, fibromyalgia, and muscle ache. However, further development is needed as the VA examiner did not provide a clear opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction, coronary artery disease, tension headaches secondary to PTSD, sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, and back disability was denied. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions with initial ratings assigned.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further examination regarding his respiratory disorder, sleep apnea, headaches, sinusitis, rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), conjunctivitis, fatigue, bilateral eye disorder, and reproductive organ disorder.