Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board granted an initial rating of 50 percent for headaches and increased the rating for seizures to 20 percent effective November 9, 2023.

The Board granted a 50% rating for lumbosacral strain, a separate 10% rating for left knee instability, and a 30% rating for tension headaches. The other claims were denied.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's headache disability, as the evidence did not support characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months.

The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraines to correct an error by the AOJ in satisfying a regulatory duty prior to the August 2021 rating decision.

The Veteran was granted a 10 percent disability rating for chronic headaches from November 8, 2022, to May 21, 2023, and the claim for an increased rating of 30 percent or higher for chronic headaches after May 22, 2023, was denied. The claims for increased ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome were also denied.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the ratings of migraines and traumatic headaches, as well as a 70 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol use.

The Board granted service connection for psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss with effective dates of December 20, 2018. An initial evaluation of 100 percent was granted for the psychiatric condition, while a higher rating for tinnitus was denied. SMC was also granted from that date.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable evaluation of migraine headaches and an increased rating for a left knee disability to correct errors by the AOJ, requiring new VA examinations.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches but granted an earlier effective date of March 12, 2021, for the assignment of a 50 percent rating.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, but remanded claims for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to a need for additional evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic headaches but remanded the claims for a back condition, hemorrhoids, and dizziness.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and denied an increased rating for reactive airway disease, while remanding issues related to migraine headaches and restless leg syndrome.

The Board granted service connection for functional abdominal pain syndrome, a headache disorder, dyspnea, left elbow disorder, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, left knee disorder, and right foot plantar fasciitis. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for verruca vulgaris and bilateral hand scars. The Board remanded the claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for migraines was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew the claim.

The Board granted service connection for migraines, finding that they are caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus. The sleep apnea claim was remanded for further development.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of December 20, 1969 for the award of service connection for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, spinal stenosis and intervertebral disc syndrome but denied earlier effective dates for other conditions.

The Board remands the matters of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability and an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for cluster headaches due to inadequate medical examinations.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for further development regarding the Veteran's periods of INACDUTRA and ACDUTRA.

The Board granted increased ratings and service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder tendinopathy, migraines, pain and dysfunction in multiple joints, and major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety.