Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, ulnar neuropathy with loss of muscle right upper extremity, GERD, headaches, cervical strain with arthritis, and loss of balance were denied effective dates earlier than January 19, 2011, December 3, 2012, and June 19, 2014 respectively.,There is no evidence of formal or informal claims before these dates for the respective issues.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months, warranting a rating of 30 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if he has current disabilities related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a TBI and an increased rating for migraines, finding no current disability related to these conditions.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of September 19, 2020, for the grant of a 70 percent evaluation for bipolar disorder.,The Veteran is also granted an effective date of March 18, 2020, for the grant of a 50 percent evaluation for migraines.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20% for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, but no higher.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent, effective November 13, 2017. The Veteran also has PTSD which is rated at 100 percent since November 13, 2017.

The Veteran's migraine disability was increased to a 30 percent rating effective June 9, 2022. The Board found that the Veteran experienced worsening migraines and met the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's migraine headaches, finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether these headaches began in service and have continued since then.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals, including those for psoriasis, CFS, chronic headaches, and IBS.

The Veteran was granted service connection for migraines and GAD effective January 1, 2020. The AOJ assigned these awards based on the date of receipt of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran failed to report for VA examinations and the Board finds she demonstrated good cause for missing them.

The Board has determined that the November 2006 and December 2020 decisions are not final due to new and material evidence received within one year of those decisions. The Veteran's claim for an initial higher rating for headaches from November 23, 2005, to July 17, 2012 is remanded as the AOJ did not adjudicate this issue during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for migraines and OSA as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's migraine disability had its onset during his active-duty service, while the OSA is at least as likely as not caused by his circadian rhythm disorder now characterized as PTSD.

The Veteran's rating for migraine headaches was reduced from 50% to 30%, effective February 9, 2021. The reduction was not proper and the Veteran is granted restoration of her 50% rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and migraine headaches have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also awarded a 50% rating for her migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded several rating reduction and severance decisions related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including TBI, PTDS, headache disability, and right eye disability. The issues include propriety of severing service connection for seizure disorder, reducing ratings, and discontinuing benefits.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine at L3-L5 and S1 are now rated at 40 percent, effective March 19, 2021. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 40 percent, effective March 19, 2021.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 40 percent, effective March 19, 2021. Service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, CAD, PTSD, sleep apnea, and headaches are all granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in obtaining an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's migraine headaches, including toxic exposure during service. The VA must obtain a new medical opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain VA examinations for the Veteran's sleep disability and tension headaches claims due to incomplete examination reports. The Veteran's service connection claim for a sleep disability will be considered based on direct evidence, while his rating claim for tension headaches requires an assessment of current severity without considering medication effects.