Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is established for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, tension headaches, COPD, and obstructive sleep apnea, all of which are found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected herniated disc disorder.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 30 percent rating, effective October 23, 2017. The Board found the Veteran's headaches meet the criteria for this rating based on their frequency and impact.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. The case for service connection of headaches, however, needs further examination due to lack of a recent VA examination.

The Board has dismissed all claims for earlier effective dates as the Veteran did not file an informal or formal claim prior to May 30, 2008 and the appeals are collaterally attacked.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and private treatment records. The issues include increased rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, service connection for bilateral leg disability and migraine headaches, and TDIU.

Service connection is granted for major depressive disorder.,The claim for service connection for a tonsil condition, low back disability, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, BPH, nerve conditions of the lower and upper extremities, and skin rash is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete records and a missing VA examination report. The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and migraine headaches are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of such severity to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment, and his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

Service connection has been granted for headaches and gastrointestinal distress, both on a presumptive basis due to service in the Persian Gulf War.,The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's migraine headaches as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the issues of service connection for sinusitis, headaches, and sleep apnea; an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee tendonitis with tendinosis; an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD; and an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 3, 2016 and in excess of 20 percent since then for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, headaches (secondary to sleep apnea), benign prostatic hypertrophy with urinary frequency, elbow bursitis, narcolepsy, and cataplexy are all granted. The effective dates for these conditions will be determined based on the specific claims and evidence provided.

The Veteran's claims for fatigue, functional gastrointestinal disorders (IBS), headaches, joint pain, and muscle pain have been remanded due to inadequate examinations. The conditions are presumed under the provisions for Persian Gulf War Veterans.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hip disability, and headaches, including as due to a service-connected lumbosacral spine disability. The decision also denied her request for an initial rating greater than 40 percent for her lumbosacral spine disability on an extraschedular basis.

The Board granted a 30 percent initial rating for the Veteran's tension headaches, finding that his characteristic prostrating attacks of headache pain occurred on an average once a month over the prior several months.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine disability and tension headaches are remanded due to the need for updated medical evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and for an initial, compensable rating for tension headaches due to inadequate examinations.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the maximum schedular level of 50 percent. An earlier effective date for assignment of a 50 percent rating is granted as of June 3, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches is granted, but the claims for a lumbar spine disability and TDIU are remanded due to need for additional development.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,The claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is denied. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during active service, manifested during the initial post separation year, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.