Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the maximum of 50 percent, which is the highest rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100. The Board found that her symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral sprain and migraines have been granted. The acquired psychiatric disorder remains at a 70% rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current headache disability and TBI with residuals are related to his military service. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to assess these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in providing notice of a hearing and needing an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between service-connected tinnitus and chronic headache syndrome.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 6, 2016 for service connection of cervicogenic headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical disc disease.

The Veteran's service connection for headaches is granted. The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder remains at a 50% evaluation, but the appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression is rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating due to occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.,The Veteran's headaches are currently noncompensable. The evidence does not show characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than September 23, 2009 for Meniere's syndrome and November 29, 2011 for migraines due to Meniere's syndrome have been granted. The other claims related to a neck disability, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and scar have not met the criteria for an effective date prior to October 26, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and migraines, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since June 22, 2011. Effective as of April 30, 2019, she is entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder, headaches, and fatigue due to pre-existing conditions. The cases are being returned for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches have been rated at 50 percent, but the Board has determined that a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is needed due to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and tinnitus render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as service-connected.,The effective date for the lumbar spine disability is set at June 14, 2017.,A 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability is assigned with a June 14, 2017, effective date.,Separate ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve are granted with a June 14, 2017, effective date.,The right knee disability is rated at 30 percent with a June 14, 2017, effective date.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve are each rated at 20 percent with effective dates prior to January 14, 2019.,The right knee instability is rated at 10 percent with an effective date prior to June 12, 2020.,Service connection for a migraine headache disorder is granted and the earliest possible effective date of November 7, 2017, is assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines including migraine variants were reduced from a 50% rating to a 30% rating. The Board found this reduction improper and restored the 50% disability rating effective March 8, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted from March 21, 2022. The appeal period prior to March 21, 2022, is addressed in the remand section.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent effective April 15, 2011, the maximum schedular rating due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's TBI disability is granted with a 40% rating from June 30, 2011 to September 10, 2016. A compensable rating (10%) for the period after September 10, 2016, is denied.,The Veteran's vertigo disability is granted with a 10% rating effective March 28, 2019.,The Veteran's post-traumatic headaches are not service-connected and thus no rating is assigned.,The Veteran withdrew his claim for an increased PTSD rating.

The Veteran's tension headaches and migraines are rated at a 30 percent rating, but no higher. The evidence shows the Veteran experiences characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month over the last several months.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent disability rating for tension headaches is granted, as the evidence supporting this rating was factually ascertainable by the record on September 7, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for migraine headaches and service connection for Wolff Parkinson White syndrome with left ventricular hypertrophy and left atrial dilatation due to deficiencies in the VA examinations.