Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches were reduced from a 30 percent rating to noncompensable, but the 30 percent rating was restored. The VA also granted an increased rating of 50 percent for his posttraumatic headaches effective September 13, 2022.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's cervical disc herniation is granted a 20 percent rating until October 7, 2014.

The Veteran's current migraine headaches are found to be related to his service, specifically the toxic exposure risk activities he participated in during deployment. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.,Service connection is established for both migraine headaches and GERD, with the Board concluding that they are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for an increase in the disability evaluation for residuals of left wrist ganglion cyst is denied.,An initial disability evaluation of 50 percent for migraine headaches is granted, and a higher evaluation of 50 percent is also granted. The appeal for an increased evaluation for migraine headaches is granted.,The Veteran's appeal for an increase in the disability evaluation for migraine headaches remains denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an increase in the disability evaluation for left forearm scarring status post stab wound is denied, and a compensable evaluation for superficial linear scars of the left forearm is also denied.,The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is remanded to determine if he qualifies for extraschedular TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for bronchitis, headaches, right shoulder disability, dermatitis, dry eye syndrome, kidney stones, and pharyngitis. The Veteran's claims are remanded due to potential exposure to toxic substances during service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 30 percent since February 11, 2016. The Board found that the Veteran experienced characteristic prostrating attacks of headache pain on average once per month.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and migraines (chronic headaches) were denied in August 2016 and January 2018, respectively. The Veteran did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement within one year of these decisions, leading to their finality. As the VA Form 10182 was filed after this deadline, the issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's GERD and migraine headaches have been granted service connection, with the GERD being secondary to his acquired psychiatric disorder. The rating for migraine headaches has also been increased to 30 percent.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at a 50% effective December 27, 2017.,He is also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as aggravated by service-connected tinnitus. Service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome is dismissed as it constitutes an impermissible concurrent election.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus is dismissed because the January 2022 decision did not address this issue and there was no appealable rating decision within one year of the September 2022 VA Form 10182.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for migraine headaches is granted, with the effective date set at May 13, 2014. The claim for an earlier effective date for left and right upper extremity nerve impairment and vision problems related to bilateral dry eye syndrome is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for left and right upper extremity nerve impairment and vision problems related to bilateral dry eye syndrome is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, chronic right knee pain, chronic left knee pain, lumbar strain, migraine headaches, and stomach problems due to incomplete service records and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating for migraine headaches, but no higher.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for memory loss and headaches due to a failure to obtain an adequate medical opinion. The Veteran's current diagnoses include traumatic brain injury (TBI) with mild memory loss and headaches, and he contends these conditions are related to a head injury during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of PTSD was denied as February 8, 2020 is the earliest date on which the increase in disability became factually ascertainable.,An effective date of January 19, 2021 but no earlier was granted for service connection of right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The claim was remanded as there was not actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.,The rating reduction from 50% to 30% for migraines was found improper, and a 50% rating is restored.,Service connection for hypertension (high blood pressure), erectile dysfunction, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Veteran's disability rating for headaches was reduced from 50% to 30%, but the Board has restored the 50% rating for the period from April 1, 2021, to August 14, 2023.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for migraines is granted at a 50 percent rating, but no higher. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include insomnia and depression) due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were found to have first manifested in service and persisted since, meeting the criteria for service connection.