Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for headache disorder, including migraine and variants, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's condition was incurred in service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD and/or tinnitus. The VA will obtain relevant private care records and provide an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of migraines (stress headache (claimed as migraine headaches) now claimed as chronic headaches). The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates on all issues related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for migraines and right shoulder strain due to lack of current diagnoses. The claims for left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities are remanded as VA examinations are needed.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran's Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was not properly completed and signed by an authorized representative.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and Meniere's disease, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active duty.

The appeal of the increased rating for service-connected headaches, effective May 22, 2020, is dismissed.,The appeal of entitlement to an earlier effective date for TDIU is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed for his claim of service connection for headaches. His claims for foot disability and PTSD were granted, with the foot disability receiving a 50% rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for TBI residuals and headaches are granted as the evidence supports that these conditions began during his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for major depressive disorder prior to December 4, 2020 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, thus denying an increased rating. For migraines, a 30 percent rating was granted effective from when the Veteran's claim for increase was received (presumably prior to December 4, 2020).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent migraines and prostrating headaches was denied because no new and relevant evidence was received to support the claim.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left elbow disability, and unspecified trauma-and stressor-related disorder. The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral vision disability was denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability or persistent symptoms during the pendency of the claim. Service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis was also denied as there is no in-service disease or injury indicative of the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of folliculitis and headaches, finding that no increase in disability was factually ascertainable prior to May 15, 2023.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the basic eligibility requirements for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to May 15, 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), headaches, and OSA. The claims are remanded for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's left knee strain and low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC(t) prior to October 16, 2024 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a need for higher level aid and attendance before this date.,For the earlier effective dates of service connection for erectile dysfunction and grant of SMC(k), the claim was also denied as there was no factual basis to establish entitlement prior to April 27, 2022.

The Veteran's low back disability, right knee disability, bilateral hallux valgus with degenerative joint disease, bilateral shin splints (tingling of the bilateral lower extremities), tinea versicolor, migraines, and left shoulder disability are all found to have onset during his period of service from July 1996 to July 2008. As a result, these conditions are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left inguinal hernia is not considered due to lack of current diagnosis or functional impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, chronic headaches, skin disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability (unspecified anxiety disorder, other specified depressive disorder, and somatic symptom disorder).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headache disability (as secondary to service-connected TBI) and a separate initial compensable rating for TBI due to errors in satisfying VA's duty to assist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches are related to his time in active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for meningioma, headaches, Grover's disease, actinic keratosis, seborrheic keratosis, and nail pterygium in lichen planus have been granted. The effective date is September 17, 2018.