Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, migraines, and a left knee disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's active duty service is conceded.

The Board dismissed the appeal for eligibility to direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a February 2024 Rating Decision, as there was no error of fact or law alleged.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between his service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss and his migraines.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 30 percent disability rating, effective May 25, 2021. The Board found that the Veteran experienced migraines with characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month over the last several months, which corresponds to the criteria for a 30 percent rating under DC 8100.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tension headaches, which began in 1998-1999, is related to service exposure to loud noises and a head injury. However, the VA examiner's opinion was deemed inadequate due to lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms. The Board has therefore remanded the case for an addendum opinion addressing all theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA medical opinion and incomplete work history provided by the AOJ.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of proposed reductions in ratings for major depressive disorder without psychosis, posttraumatic stress disorder, and migraine headaches as they are not final rating actions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to May 7, 2012, finding that her service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for TDIU during this period.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headache, shin splints, and pes planus disabilities. The kidney disability and diverticulitis disability have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board dismissed the appeals of proposed reductions in disability ratings for migraine headaches, gait-swing phase foot right cause foot drop, and lumbar vertebral disc displacement, L5-S1. The Veteran's disability ratings were continued at their current levels.

The Board has granted an initial 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's post-traumatic migraine headaches, effective March 23, 2021. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are not manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks, and therefore a compensable evaluation is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and evaluation due to incomplete information in the existing records. The issues of service connection for migraines, pain in the lower right extremity (deep vein thrombosis), and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are being addressed.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU rating from January 19, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of evidence from his active-duty service period.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding earlier effective dates for PTSD, migraine headaches, and vertigo due to TBI as they are not appealable decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to additional relevant STRs being added to the file after the initial decision.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for service-connected migraines, including migraine variants, was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a testicular condition due to nerve entrapment from his inguinal hernia repair.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and gastritis, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches is being remanded due to the receipt of new and relevant evidence. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further review.