Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(t) is remanded due to incomplete records and inadequate examinations, which may affect her eligibility for the benefit.

The Board denied the Veteran's reduction from a 40% to a 20% rating for hypertension and his claim for TDIU, finding that the evidence did not show actual improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines, including as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, PTSD, and PTSD medication, is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports. The Board finds the current opinions insufficient and requires a new examination with an adequate rationale addressing all theories of entitlement.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability as secondary to his service-connected hypertension should be remanded due to an inadequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches and OSA have been granted as both conditions are found to be related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need to determine if any of her conditions are associated with active duty or inactive duty training.

The Board denied an effective date prior to June 10, 2014, for the grant of service connection for headaches and also denied a compensable rating for headaches.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service acoustic trauma.,No current right arm disability, GERD, or fungal foot condition was found.,Service connection for fungus of the feet is denied.,Bilateral knee disability and facial cyst are remanded for further development.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded.,Minimal small vessel periventricular ischemic white matter disease is remanded as secondary to hypertension.,Chronic headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headache disability is granted an initial 10 percent rating.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction disability does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, and the Board has dismissed them as a result.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 1, 2016. Therefore, the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied. The Veteran also does not meet the criteria for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 prior to April 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back condition, hip pain (arthralgia), and headaches, migraine due to potential pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran is presumed exposed to environmental toxins as a Persian Gulf veteran.

All issues related to increased ratings and service connection are granted effective March 30, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and headaches, as they are dependent on whether the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service. The VA needs to provide an addendum opinion addressing this issue.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinitis and migraines due to exposure to burn pits during service. Service connection for other conditions, including respiratory disorder, right ankle tendonitis, left ankle tendonitis, lumbosacral strain, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis, is denied.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to April 7, 2016, for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for gastrointestinal problems and entitlement to a compensable rating for headaches associated with sleep apnea have been dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for migraine headaches is denied. The claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for unspecified anxiety and depressive disorders from October 31, 2019, to June 26, 2020, is also denied. However, the Veteran's TDIU claim as of January 28, 2020, is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The Board finds service connection for tinnitus is warranted due to in-service noise exposure and credible lay statements of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, radiculopathy of lower extremities, neck disability and associated radiculopathy, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disability due to incomplete information.

The Board has granted a rating of 50 percent for migraine headaches, but the right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome issue is remanded due to inadequate examination.