Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the adequacy of VA medical opinions related to the Veteran's headaches and service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a headache disability is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's headache disability is granted a 30 percent rating, but not greater. The headaches are characterized by attacks occurring on average once a month when the ameliorative effects of medication are considered.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a headache disorder, finding that there were errors in the previous VA examinations and opinions. The Veteran's headaches are being evaluated again to determine if they are related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic headaches have been characterized by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability throughout the appeal period, warranting a rating of 50 percent from March 15, 2021.

The Board has determined that a remand is needed to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and scheduling the Veteran for an additional VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, particularly regarding secondary service connection. The claims for cervical spine disability and associated radiculopathy, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and migraine headaches are being remanded.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for tension headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 10% or higher rating due to lack of characteristic prostrating attacks.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and Alopecia Areata due to inadequate examination opinions. The Veteran is presumed exposed to burn pits, which may provide a basis for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and migraine headaches were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection due to lack of continuity of symptomatology or direct relationship to service.,Service connection was also denied for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability, with the reduction from 20% to 10% being deemed improper.

The Board has identified errors in the VA examinations and is remanding the case for further examination to ensure that only the correct Veteran's service treatment records are considered.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance was denied as the evidence did not show that he met the requirements for these benefits prior to August 16, 2016.

The Board has determined that the claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches must be readjudicated based on new and relevant evidence. The AOJ is instructed to consider the merits of the underlying claim.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of September 25, 2020 for increased ratings of PTSD and migraine headaches, as well as eligibility for DEA benefits. The Veteran's appeal is denied in part due to a remand for additional records.

The Veteran's disability ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and tension headaches were improperly reduced. The Board has reinstated these ratings to their original levels, effective August 1, 2022.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, his right eye disability is rated at 10 percent, and his facial nerve disorder remains at 10 percent. The appeals for increased evaluations were denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,For tension headaches (claimed as ocular migraines), the evidence does not support a compensable rating during either appeal period.

The Board granted service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee condition. The Veteran's obesity was not found to be a compensable disability. Service connection was denied for jaw condition, skin condition (claimed as athletes' foot), bilateral hearing loss, ED secondary to PTSD, TBI, migraine headaches, residual scar of the head/scalp, scar of the lower back, and right shoulder and right foot scars.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) is found to be a but-for cause of his headaches, and the Board grants service connection for headaches as secondary to TBI.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of April 13, 2021 for the grant of service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (left knee disability), rated at 10 percent disabling.