Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty in differentiating symptoms related to TBI from those related to generalized anxiety disorder and/or PTSD. The Veteran will need to undergo further VA examination(s) for this purpose.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are remanded due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran is requested to provide any outstanding private treatment records and the Board will seek addendum opinions on these issues.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his claims for service connection for chronic pain syndrome, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine posttraumatic osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with posttraumatic lumbar osteoarthritis has been withdrawn. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.,The Veteran's appeal regarding his claims for service connection for migraines has also been withdrawn. His petition to reopen his claims for cervical spine posttraumatic osteoarthritis and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with posttraumatic lumbar osteoarthritis have been granted, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and migraines remain pending.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia was reduced from a 40 percent to a 20 percent rating, effective October 1, 2016.,The Veteran's muscle tension headaches were granted a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's tuberculosis claim was denied. The rating for hemorrhoids has been granted at a 20% level effective April 29, 2019. Migraine headaches have been granted with a 30% rating. PTSD has been granted with a 50% rating. Other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his cervical radiculopathy and migraines.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, as well as her migraines, are being remanded for additional examinations to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for migraine headaches was denied, and service connection for surgical neck scars associated with cervical spine DDD was granted but only up to June 30, 2014. The Veteran’s claim for a higher rating for his stellate scar of the occipital area of the scalp is remanded.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's claim of service connection for defective visual acuity. The claims of service connection for a skin disorder, headaches, and low back disorder (degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine) have been reopened due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for headaches as secondary to sinusitis and for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine as related to service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for sinusitis was denied. Her claim of secondary service connection for GERD was granted, and her claim for a headache disability was denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD was granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a headache disorder were denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral knee arthritis, bilateral shoulder arthritis, gastrointestinal disability, headaches, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran's 50% rating for service-connected migraine headaches is granted, as his condition meets the criteria for very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 50 percent disability rating effective April 27, 2018. The Board found that the evidence supports this rating based on the frequency and severity of his migraines.

The Board has decided that the propriety of reducing the Veteran's migraine rating from 30% to noncompensable effective January 1, 2019 is unclear and requires further review. The AOJ will need to consider additional evidence including recent VA treatment records and any private medical records related to the Veteran’s migraines.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, head injury residuals (headaches), sleep apnea, dizziness, left shoulder disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and/or left knee disability are being remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection is not currently established for any of the conditions listed above.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, a left collar bone disability, facial lacerations with scars, migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and a left elbow disability. The reasons given were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury is denied. The Veteran's depression and right shoulder tendonitis with degenerative arthritis are both rated at their maximum levels, but the Veteran's headaches secondary to trauma do not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral SNHL, gastritis, headache disorder, acid reflux, and fatigue have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for a respiratory disorder (bronchiolitis).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for left knee degenerative joint disease or right knee degenerative joint disease, but granted separate 10 percent ratings for instability in each knee. Service connection was denied for headaches, chronic pain syndrome, lumbar spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disability.