Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic headaches is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher rating for GERD with laryngopharyngeal reflux.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for migraines and GERD to obtain medical opinions pursuant to the PACT Act.

The Board denied a compensable rating for tension headaches as the evidence did not show characteristic prostrating attacks that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches as the Veteran's preexisting condition did not worsen during service and was not shown to have manifested within one year of separation.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an initial rating of 30 percent for migraine headaches. The Veteran's OSA is found to be caused by his already service-connected GERD, while his migraines are characterized by characteristic prostrating attacks occurring once a month.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50 percent from September 17, 2018 to November 16, 2020 and again from June 25, 2021. Service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal for irritable bowel syndrome, fatigue, migraines/headaches, left knee strain, left shoulder strain, and right shoulder strain as the appellant requested a withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus was also denied as his symptoms are already at the maximum schedular rating.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in January 2021 was inadequate and requires a new opinion to address whether the Veteran's claimed headaches are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for migraine headaches is granted, effective October 4, 2018. The Board found the evidence in approximate balance regarding the frequency and economic impact of his severe headache episodes.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraines, ingrown toenails (right foot), and TMJ dysfunction have been granted. The claims for right ankle condition, left ankle condition, scar on the right leg, and low back condition are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records of the Veteran's Reserve service, which were not obtained. The Veteran contends his migraines, neck condition, and lumbar spine condition are related to a motor vehicle accident in 1983 during reserve training.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches should be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the January 2022 VA opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected migraine headaches has been granted, with the disability rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his headaches are denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to June 19, 2019, for a 50 percent disability rating for service-connected migraine headaches as it is a freestanding claim that cannot be addressed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including alcohol use in sustained remission, other specified depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder is attributable to service. The head injury with headaches claim is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC HB was denied as the evidence did not show that he met the criteria for SMC HB based on his service-connected disabilities and unemployability.

The Veteran's headaches, hypertension, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were not found to be related to his active service.,There is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after the Veteran's separation from service.