Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining additional records from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Veteran's claim for left upper extremity radiculopathy was denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.,A 10 percent disability rating is granted for bilateral plantar fasciitis, with pain on manipulation and use of the feet.

The claims for service connection of tuberculosis, heart disease, left and right knee conditions, and headache condition have been denied.,Claims for increased evaluations of tinnitus and earlier effective dates for service connection of tinnitus and hearing loss have also been denied.

The Veteran's syncope and vasovagal reaction are not service-connected.,IBS and diverticulitis do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,Bilateral ingrown toenails, multiple nevi on back, and eczema do not warrant higher evaluations.,Left shoulder strain does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.,Obstructive sleep apnea requires use of a CPAP machine but does not warrant a higher rating.,Migraines are evaluated based on very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, meeting the criteria for a 50% evaluation.,Major depressive disorder with insomnia meets the criteria for a 70% evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his migraines, major depressive disorder with anxious distress (PTSD, anxiety disorder, memory loss), and traumatic brain injury. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability from the other issues.

The Board has denied service connection for GERD and PTSD, but has remanded the claims for tinea versicolor, migraine disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD).,Service connection is not granted for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% effective from August 20, 2013 to April 5, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The case is REMANDED for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of her migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for headaches, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, and lumbar spine degenerative facet arthropathy have been dismissed. The appeal for service connection for hypertension has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at the maximum 50 percent disability rating, which is considered severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), migraine headaches, diverticulitis with surgical scar and hemicolectomy, hypertension secondary to diverticulitis, and depression secondary to diverticulitis have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for TBI and migraines, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations. The Veteran contends that his symptoms have worsened since previous evaluations.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,Service connection for migraine headaches was also denied, with the Board finding that there is no evidence of an increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and tension headaches have not met the criteria for higher ratings, with the exception of a remanded issue regarding service connection for loss of teeth numbers 8 and 9.,PTSD has been remanded due to issues related to effective date and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated at 90 percent disabling since September 23, 2012. The Board has granted restoration of disability ratings for migraines, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, as well as TDIU from September 23, 2012 to September 22, 2013.

The Veteran's appeals of his denial of entitlement to service connection for Meniere’s disease and entitlement to an increased evaluation for tinnitus are dismissed. The Veteran's appeal of his entitlement to service connection for cluster and migraine headaches, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder, secondary to tinnitus, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The neck condition claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, irritable colon syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis of the left hand, and amputation of the distal tip of the left thumb have been denied. Additionally, his claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain, left hip trochanteric pain syndrome and iliopsoas tendonitis, right hip trochanteric pain syndrome and iliopsoas tendonitis, cervical spine disability, headache disability, and obstructive sleep apnea have also been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Migraine Headaches due to a lack of a VA examination, as well as insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current disabilities and his active duty service.