Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's tension headaches as of March 9, 2021, finding that his symptoms most nearly approximated characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months. The Board denied any higher rating due to lack of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection of migraine headaches.

The Veteran's headaches, PTSD, and left foot dysesthetic mononeuropathy have been granted increased ratings. The dermatophytosis/tinea versicolor has not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for headaches, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service. The VA is required to provide an addendum opinion addressing potential exposure during deployments in Iraq.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for cervical spine intervertebral disc disease, lumbar strain with spondylolisthesis, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his employment is not in a protected environment and he can secure and follow substantially gainful employment despite his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, lumbar strain, migraines, arthritis (bilateral feet, knees, and hands as well as the left elbow), and sleep apnea are preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of February 12, 2019 for the grant of a 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for unspecified depressive disorder, and service connection for a migraine including migraine variants. The Veteran's basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) is also granted with this effective date.

The Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU under the schedular criteria prior to January 9, 2017. The Board finds that an extra-schedular evaluation is required due to inadequate opinion from the Director of Compensation Services and a pre-decisional duty to assist error by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headache disability, and left knee chondromalacia patellae were denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for the left knee chondromalacia patellae was also denied.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not rated higher than the current non-compensable rating.,The Veteran does not have a diagnosed condition of headaches that causes impairment in earning capacity.,Service connection for OSA, secondary to service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis and obesity as an intermediate step, is granted.,Service connection for GERD is denied.,Service connection for sinusitis is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding the right hand/finger disability claim. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to toxic chemicals in the Persian Gulf during his service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent prior to May 6, 2022 and 50 percent beginning on that date. The Veteran is granted service connection for major depressive disorder and secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.,Service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II remains pending as the claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for hearing loss is being remanded due to the lack of evidence showing an increase in severity prior to February 6, 2023.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is being remanded as there was no indication of intent to file such a claim before January 12, 2018.

The Veteran's migraine headaches did not manifest in characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over the last several months, and thus, he is denied a compensable rating for his migraines prior to November 2, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for migraines has been dismissed as the Veteran and his representative have withdrawn the appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for increased ratings on bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, lumbosacral strain, and tension headaches are dismissed as they were part of pending claims in the VA's legacy appeal system.

The Veteran's status-post surgical removal of osteoma of skull with cranioplasty reconstruction is denied a compensable rating.,A 30 percent rating for the painful scar on the head has been granted, but no higher.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are characterized by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50% evaluation since September 23, 2019.