Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and migraine headaches due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for fibromyalgia, headaches, and tremors were denied as the new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's claims to establish service connection for a heart disability, obstructive sleep apnea, major depressive disorder with anxious distress features, and tension headaches have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection has been granted for major depressive disorder with anxious distress features, obstructive sleep apnea, and tension headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened, and he is granted service connection for headaches. Service connection for OSA is denied. The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent throughout the period under review. His type two diabetes mellitus is currently rated as 20 percent disabling with no additional peripheral neuropathy disabilities. Increased ratings are granted for right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for residuals of concussion and chronic headaches was granted. However, the claim for TBI residuals was denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his in-service head injury.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, a neurological disability (other than headaches), and a heart disability are denied. Service connection is granted for headaches only.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder was granted with an effective date of December 15, 2015. The claim for a headache disability was denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for obstructive sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, psychiatric disabilities, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, nasal fracture residuals, left hand disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, headache, sinus disability, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction. The Board also remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for herpes simplex.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 14, 2015 for Reactive Airway Disease (RAD) is denied as there is no evidence of a claim or entitlement prior to that date.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied because the Veteran did not have tinnitus during service and it is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical and lumbar spine disorders, bilateral shoulder and hip disabilities, a left knee disability, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury residuals, and erectile dysfunction, have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined rating of 90%.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and tension headaches due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the current state of his disabilities, as there is evidence suggesting a possible increase in disability since the last examination.

The claim for service connection for fibromyalgia is granted with an effective date of February 10, 2017. The other claims remain denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional VA treatment records, schedule examinations for PTSD, migraine and mixed muscle contraction type headaches, DDD of the lumbosacral spine, and radiculopathy, and to provide an examination regarding the nature and etiology of any cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's headaches, sleep disturbances, and memory loss are all found to be due to an undiagnosed illness during service.

The Veteran's service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, but he does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating for his hearing loss. The Veteran is granted a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for this condition as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's headaches are also granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, allergic rhinitis, major depressive disorder, and tinnitus. For allergic rhinitis, a 10% rating is granted effective October 26, 2012.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 30 percent rating from October 15, 2012 to August 4, 2013. The issue of an increased rating greater than 50 percent for the period after August 4, 2013 is pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations for his cervical spine, right knee, right shoulder, left elbow, TBI, seizures, and migraines.

The Veteran's GERD and migraine headaches are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms may have worsened since the last VA examinations. The issues are being remanded for new VA examinations to determine the current severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypoxemia, headaches (cluster headaches), and sinusitis were denied. The Board found no direct or secondary service connection based on the lack of in-service events, injuries, or diseases related to these conditions.