Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning several service connection and rating issues, including for tension headaches, bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, arthritis, cervical spine strain with degenerative disc disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, left ankle fracture, right ankle fracture, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for migraines is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the November 2021 VA examination. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error has occurred and requires another evaluation.

The Veteran's entitlement to service connection for insomnia is denied, but he is granted service connection for headaches, claimed as migraine.

The Veteran's appeals for ratings related to migraine headaches and traumatic brain injury residuals have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is secondary to his service-connected bilateral tinnitus, depression, migraines, and bilateral shin splints. The claim for service connection for OSA is granted.

The Board has found that the AOJ made errors in obtaining medical records and did not clarify the Veteran's claims for service connection. The case is being remanded to correct these issues.

The Veteran's claims for compensable disability ratings for allergic rhinitis, IBS with gastritis, migraine headaches, and thyroid disability have all been denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, low back pain, and headaches due to a lack of diagnosed or identifiable disabilities at the time of the June 1995 rating decisions. The AOJ applied then-binding law which held that pain alone without a diagnosed condition is not sufficient for VA compensation purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for unspecified depressive disorder, OSA, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are currently rated at 70 percent, 50 percent, and 30 percent respectively.

The Veteran's appeal to reduce the rating for migraines from 50% to 30% was dismissed because it was premature and did not allege specific error of fact or law in the determination being appealed.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disability and an initial rating of 10 percent for TBI residuals. The headaches are considered directly related to the Veteran's in-service head injury, while the TBI residuals warrant a 10 percent rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines as there is no credible medical evidence showing that his migraines were caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus, and they did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year following separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left knee pain is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that the Veteran's reports of a left knee injury during service are not credible.,Service connection for head injury residuals (including headaches) is denied because the Veteran has not provided evidence of a separate diagnosis apart from the headache issue already on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a chronic sleep disorder, vertigo, and headaches due to inadequate examination opinions and the need to obtain private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic headaches, respiratory insufficiency (dyspnea), and constipation due to inadequate examinations and the need for further medical opinions regarding potential service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and failure to provide authorization for VA to obtain private neurology records.

The Veteran's scoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine is denied an increased evaluation. The Board granted presumptive service connection for asthma on a basis other than PACT Act, but remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding TERA exposure and secondary service connection for migraines.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are incomplete and remands for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's headache disability is related to service or any other condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for status post headaches is denied. The Board has also remanded the TDIU referral due to severe economic inadaptability caused by migraines.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and migraine headaches are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for these conditions on a direct or secondary basis.