Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for migraine headaches and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to duty-to-assist errors, lack of medical evidence, and insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of very frequent and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease, migraines, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and corneal scar, right eye (right eye disability) have been denied.,The earliest effective dates available under the applicable law for these awards are February 11, 2019, for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities, and migraine headaches; January 22, 2014, for corneal scar, right eye (right eye disability).

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and TDIU are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of migraine headaches due to a procedural defect in filing an untimely VA Form 10182 Decision Review Request.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 30 percent since June 10, 2019. The Board finds that the new evidence received in July 2019 supports readjudicating his claim for service connection of a spine condition and remands for further action on his right hip iliotibial band syndrome issues.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to PTSD is granted, and the case is remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims for a compensable initial rating for migraine headaches and TDIU due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's medications are not considered in evaluating his migraines, and clarification is needed about his symptoms.

Service connection for chronic costochondritis is granted, and a 50 percent rating for tension headaches since December 9, 2019 is also granted.,A 20 percent rating for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain since November 2, 2020 is granted. The issue of a compensable rating (greater than 0 percent) for right ear hearing loss since November 2, 2020 is remanded.

The Veteran's headaches and gastrointestinal problems (GERD-diarrhea) have been granted initial ratings of 30 percent each, effective July 1, 2010.,An earlier effective date of July 1, 2010, for the grant of service connection for gastrointestinal problems (GERD-diarrhea) has also been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU and DEA benefits from January 1, 2015 to March 19, 2021 due to service-connected PTSD, TBI, and tension headaches.

The Board has decided to remand several claims due to inadequate examinations and missing evidence. The Veteran's migraine headaches, cervical spine strain, lumbosacral strain, and obstructive sleep apnea are all being reviewed further.

The Veteran's GERD is rated as noncompensable, with pyrosis but no other required symptoms for a higher rating.,The Veteran's tension headaches are rated as noncompensable due to lack of characteristic prostrating attacks.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided are inadequate and requires additional opinions to address the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for various conditions have been dismissed.,The appeal for service connection for a right hip condition has also been dismissed.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are being remanded for a new medical examination to determine the frequency and severity of his attacks, as well as whether he is unemployable due to his condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no new and relevant evidence to support reopening or readjudicating these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total occupational and social impairment. A 70 percent rating is granted for PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claim for service connection for headaches. The case is being remanded due to a lack of an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's headaches are caused or aggravated by his service-connected depression with insomnia or low back strain.