Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50% from September 21, 2016, due to very frequent and prolonged attacks that cause severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary and the AOJ should effectuate earlier effective dates for certain evaluations, including a 40 percent evaluation for residuals of head trauma other than posttraumatic headaches prior to January 15, 2013, and a separate evaluation for posttraumatic headaches prior to January 15, 2013.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including headaches, menstrual issues and blackouts, pulmonary embolism, GERD, right foot pes planus, and asthma. The RO is instructed to obtain additional medical records and schedule VA examinations for her asthma and right foot condition.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims of service connection for PTSD, fibromyalgia, back disability, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches is granted. The cases are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran withdrew all her claims, including those for service connection and increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar disorder, including DJD, was granted. The claims for neck and headache disorders were also granted.

Prior to September 7, 2016, the Veteran's headaches were not productive of severe economic inadaptability. Since then, they have been productive of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks with severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and depressive disorder, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heat stroke, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), scar, status post left knee injury, recurrent tinnitus, residuals of concussion including vertigo and headaches, and major depressive disorder with anxiety have been remanded.,The effective dates for the grants of service connection for scar, status post left knee injury; recurrent tinnitus; residuals of concussion including vertigo and headaches; and major depressive disorder with anxiety are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete medical records, need for additional examination, and need for retrospective medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's tension headaches are currently evaluated as noncompensable prior to February 3, 2018, and as 30 percent disabling thereafter. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed due to the ameliorating effects of medication in determining the severity of his service-connected disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension and headaches due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of an examination. The Veteran will need to undergo further medical examinations and obtain additional treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hip disorder, back disorder, and left leg disorder (headaches) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's headaches are granted service connection as they are related to medication for a service-connected condition. The bilateral hip osteoarthritis/bursitis is not found to be secondary to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's back disability is granted service connection, but the Veteran does not have gout of the right hand.,Sleep apnea and gout in both legs are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional examinations.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for right foot stress fracture, dermatitis, migraine headaches, and PTSD is granted. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date for a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinosinusitis prior to September 30, 2013 is denied. The claims of service connection for bilateral hip condition, bilateral knee condition, left foot condition, CFS, heart condition, and dermatitis are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a vision disability and an initial rating for tension headaches, but has remanded the issue of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tension headaches warrant a remand for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to assess the current severity of his condition.