Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings and service connection, including those related to the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, elbow, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, hip, knee, ankle disorders, sinusitis, TBI, tension headaches, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to need for additional medical examination and review of records.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches are currently rated as 30 percent disabling from July 13, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.,The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with insomnia is currently rated as 50 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence supports an increased rating to 70 percent.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 50% since the appeal period began, and he is granted a higher rating. The TDIU claim was remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that there are missing, pertinent records that must be obtained prior to making an informed decision regarding the service connection claims. These records include VA outpatient records from December 2001 to 2015 and any private treatment records related to the Veteran's claimed disabilities, particularly those from Mercy Hospital in the early 2000s.

The Veteran's hypertension and sinusitis have been granted service connection. The initial ratings for PTSD, post-concussive migraines, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar spondylosis are remanded.,A new examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions and his lumbar spondylosis. The Veteran may also need a VR&E evaluation.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches and tinnitus. His migraine headaches are rated at 50% effective August 8, 2014. The claims for obstructive sleep apnea, back condition, left foot condition, right foot condition, and high blood pressure are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, effective May 28, 2014. The other conditions were denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The claims for left shoulder, hip, and leg disabilities, as well as sleep apnea and migraines are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examinations and incomplete information. The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, but he contends it is more severe. For TDIU, the Veteran needs to submit a formal application and provide his work history.

The Board found that the severance of service connection for headaches resulting from head trauma was proper due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the November 2006 rating decision, as the evidence showed that all facial/head injuries leading to a claim for headaches were the result of injuries sustained while intoxicated.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for migraine headaches, skin disorder of the face, and other conditions were granted. The remaining issues related to back disability, stomach disability, asthma, diabetes, acquired psychiatric disorder, COPD, and irritable colon syndrome are remanded.

The Veteran's spinal and back condition was granted service connection. The Veteran's migraines were granted a 30 percent rating beginning May 15, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The cases are now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and attempting to corroborate in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is reopened, and the case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship between her benign snoring syndrome and sleep apnea. The Veteran's Gulf War undiagnosed illness claims are also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including joint condition, muscle condition, fatigue/weakness, hives, insomnia, asthma, sleep apnea, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), headaches, obsessive compulsive disorder, and depressive disorder, all claimed as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's pre-existing migraines existed prior to service and were not aggravated by his service-connected trigeminal neuralgia.

The Veteran's headache disorder is currently rated as noncompensable, but the Board has determined that a 30 percent rating is warranted. The left knee disorder remains at a 10 percent rating. Both issues are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis have been denied.,The Veteran's applications to reopen the previously denied claims for diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps, vision disability, hemorrhoids, thyroid disability, laryngitis, tachycardia, migraine, respiratory disorder (bronchial asthma), and a fatty liver and liver cysts have all been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's applications to reopen the previously denied claims for gastritis, reflux, duodenitis and/or diverticulitis, hiatal hernia, cervical disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral leg disability, back disability (claimed as radiation of pain to the back and right side of body), left shoulder disability, vesicular disorder of the bilateral leg, gallbladder disability have all been granted due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection granted for migraines, with the presumption that they began during service and have continued since then.