Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a neck disability, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The case will be further reviewed and decided by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected migraine headaches was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's migraines did not present prolonged attacks or severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches was denied as the evidence did not show very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a scalp scar was denied because there were no characteristics of disfigurement. A separate 10 percent rating for a painful scalp scar was granted from November 25, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for a 30 percent rating for migraine headaches, effective June 28, 2022, was granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced migraines with characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month over the last several months, meeting the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Veteran's effective date for a 30 percent rating for migraines is granted as of April 25, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to a duty-to-assist error related to the scheduling of VA examinations. The Board finds it unclear whether the Veteran received proper notice of the scheduled appointments and thus, the claims are being returned for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% evaluation, and the issue of service connection for migraines is remanded.

The Veteran's headaches are productive of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, resulting in severe economic inadaptability. The Board has granted an initial rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was granted with an effective date of December 24, 2021, which is one day after his separation from active duty.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection awards of PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the spine with lumbosacral strain, tension headaches, status-post left inguinal herniorrhaphy, costochondritis, and PFB and bilateral paronychia.

The Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder is granted a rating of 30 percent, effective June 1, 2021. Service connection for migraine headaches is also granted.

The Veteran's initial rating for migraine headaches was increased, but no new VA examination was provided. The case is being remanded to correct this duty to assist error.

The Veteran's headache disability is characterized by characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month over the last several months, and he has been granted a 30 percent rating for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, and headache disability due to lack of evidence meeting VA compensation criteria. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for allergic rhinitis was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient rationale in the July 2022 VA opinion regarding whether he has current hypertension related to service.,The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of hypothermia, bilateral lower extremities (BLE hypothermia) is remanded due to insufficient rationale in the July 2022 VA examination report regarding whether his symptoms are related to service.,The Veteran's increased rating claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient rationale in the July 2022 VA examination report regarding all of his reported symptoms and their impact on daily life.,The Veteran's service connection claim for chest pain with palpitations is remanded due to insufficient rationale in the July 2022 VA opinion regarding whether his current condition is related to service.,The Veteran's service connection claim for left ankle condition is remanded due to insufficient rationale in the July 2022 VA examination report regarding all of his reported symptoms and their impact on daily life.,The Veteran's service connection claim for right ankle condition is remanded due to insufficient rationale in the July 2022 VA examination report regarding all of his reported symptoms and their impact on daily life.,The Veteran's increased rating claim for tension headaches is remanded due to insufficient rationale in the July 2022 VA examination report regarding all of his reported symptoms and their impact on daily life.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings are being remanded due to incomplete records from non-VA civilian providers and the VA emergency room. The Board requests authorization for these missing records.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran had a current condition in service and continuous symptoms since service separation. The appeal is based on the presumption of continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address the issues of service connection for tinnitus, headaches, residuals of prostate cancer, urinary incontinence, and erectile dysfunction. The current rating decision on PTSD with major depressive disorder and anxious distress remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected pulsatile, unspecified headache was denied as his headaches do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable disability code.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ocular migraines is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Board will obtain a VA examination by an ophthalmologist to determine if the Veteran's ocular migraines are related to his service.