Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for various conditions, including migraine headaches and a thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board dismissed the appeals for a higher disability rating and service connection due to concurrent elections being prohibited.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches was dismissed due to the lack of a prior decision in the modernized appeals system within one year of the August 2023 VA Form 10182.

The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for migraine headaches with tension headaches for the period prior to November 2, 2018.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for GERD and denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, low back disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right shoulder disability, respiratory disability, sleep apnea, and scars. Service connection was granted for irritable bowel syndrome, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD), headache disability as secondary to PTSD/MDD, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD/MDD.

The Veteran withdrew appeals for increased rating claims and service connection claims, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and revision of prior rating decisions on the basis that clear and unmistakable error was not established, and no evidence supported a diagnosis of left or right foot, elbow, or cervical spine disabilities.

The Board granted an increased initial rating of 70 percent for the acquired psychiatric disorder prior to April 30, 2018, and denied a higher rating. The Veteran's chronic headaches were granted a 30 percent rating prior to September 1, 2016, but not beyond that date.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities of residuals of traumatic brain injury, migraine headaches, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for the Veteran's migraine headaches as the evidence did not show characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months.

The Board granted the restoration of a 30% rating for migraine headaches, an increased rating to 50% for migraine headaches, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for an initial compensable disability rating for tension headaches and an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbosacral spine condition to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the service-connected headache disability, finding that the Veteran's migraines did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, but granted a 20 percent rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both legs as of February 10, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder, adjustment insomnia, and migraine headaches but denied it for sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and migraines secondary to TBI.

The Board denied the motion for revision of the July 31, 2008 Rating Decision on the basis that it did not contain clear and unmistakable error.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches prior to January 26, 2022.

The appeal of the proposed reduction in disability rating from 50 percent to 30 percent for migraine headaches is dismissed, and entitlements to an initial compensable rating for mouth and tongue aphthous ulcers, increased rating for left eye old branch retinal artery occlusion with glaucoma, and higher level of special monthly compensation are denied. The service connection claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) claimed as acid reflux and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for various conditions to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the December 2022 decision on appeal.