Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist, and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed insomnia disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's migraine headaches, finding that they are proximately due to his service-connected PTSD and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome (claimed as left knee condition) and migraine headaches secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.,Both conditions are found to be at least in equipoise, meaning there is a reasonable doubt that they are related to the service-connected conditions.

The Board denied readjudication of the previously denied claims for service connection for migraines and a neck condition because new evidence submitted after the November 2018 rating decision was not relevant to proving or disproving the Veteran's claim.

The appeal seeking readjudication of the previously denied claim for PTSD and multiple other conditions is dismissed due to a procedural defect. The Veteran's authorized representative at the time the appeal was submitted did not have the authority to file the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and lymphedema, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions as there is no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, as evidenced by his inability to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, and manage his daily medications. The Board has granted entitlement to SMC(l).

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his migraine headaches was denied as the evidence did not show that his migraines were productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to posttraumatic headache, insomnia, left ankle condition, lumbosacral strain (lower back), and chest pain. The appeal was dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and cervical disc herniation are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.,Pending resolution of these issues, the Veteran's claims for right upper extremity radiculopathy and left upper extremity radiculopathy will also be remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, headache, carpal tunnel syndrome (left and right upper extremities), paresthesia, and GERD are all granted as service-connected.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 30, 2022 for a 50 percent rating for unspecified headaches. The decision finds that the Veteran experienced very prostrating and prolonged attacks of migraines or non-migraine pain productive of severe economic inadaptability beginning December 30, 2022.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for headaches and low back disability due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The Veteran's statements regarding the onset and course of his conditions will be considered, as well as any potential link between tinnitus and these disabilities.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 30 percent disability rating for his service-connected headaches, which was awarded with a noncompensable rating at 0 percent. The Board is remanding the claim due to inadequate examination and the need for a new VA examination to evaluate the severity of the Veteran's headaches without considering the ameliorating effects of any medication.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension is service-connected. The other issues are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, right hand disorder, and right hip disorder are granted. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and cervical strain due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ failed to obtain VA medical opinions addressing the etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraines, and hypertension have been denied. The claim for sciatica nerve pain is remanded.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder claim is also remanded.