Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine headaches, tinnitus, and hypertension were denied in a January 2016 rating decision. The effective date of the awards was granted on June 8, 2020, for CFS, migraine headaches, and tinnitus, and February 25, 2020, for hypertension.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for hypertension is granted as of January 11, 2020. The claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine headaches, and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 50 percent disability rating for headaches with nausea is granted. The issue of service connection for a right foot disability is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's son is not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits because he was already 26 years old at the time his father received a disability rating of 100 percent, which established basic eligibility to Chapter 35 DEA benefits. The appellant's 26th birthday occurred before the effective date of the Veteran's permanent and total service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected migraines and cervical spine degenerative disc disease. The fourth issue regarding special monthly compensation is also remanded for proper notice.

The Veteran is entitled to an earlier effective date of June 16, 2016 for the grant of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected migraines and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for right foot disability and service connection for left foot disability has been dismissed due to the Board lacking jurisdiction over these issues.,The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for PTSD and TBI, as well as migraine headaches and right ankle disability, is also dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sleep apnea and migraines were denied. The effective dates of service connection for sleep apnea and migraines have been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions, finding that no claim was submitted within one year of her discharge from active duty or prior to February 22, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including hypertension, headaches, pseudoseizures, right and left hand neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and TDIU are being remanded due to the failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The Board finds good cause for missing the appointments.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches may have existed prior to service and are not aggravated by service. The claim is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if there is any direct link between the Veteran's current headaches and her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, dizziness, and right ear hearing loss. The evidence did not support current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for hypertension is granted, and his service connection claim for headaches is denied.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at an initial 30 percent disability rating prior to September 26, 2022. The Board found that the Veteran's headaches occurred once a month over several months and were considered prostrating, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's headache disability, including cluster headaches and migraines. The examiner will consider all applicable deployments and toxic exposures in determining whether the Veteran's current condition is related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the period prior to October 29, 2021 due to her service-connected PTSD rated at 70 percent. Additionally, she is granted SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) based on her additional disabilities of tinnitus, cervical strain, right wrist sprain (Major), radiculopathy, right upper extremity, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not substantially contribute to his employment handicap, and he was found employable with his current skills, experience, and education. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for VR&E benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than February 25, 2021 for the grant of a 50 percent disability rating for migraine headaches. The evidence did not show that there was a factually ascertainable increase in the severity of her service-connected migraines within one year prior to the February 25, 2021 claim.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and a compensable rating have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% since August 6, 2019. This is a full rating under the criteria for migraines.