Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Veteran's migraine headaches resulted in characteristic prostrating attacks occurring at least once a month but did not result in very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability from September 14, 2018. From June 24, 2019, the Veteran's chronic sinusitis manifested in more than 6 non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.,The Veteran's migraine headaches resulted in characteristic prostrating attacks occurring at least once a month from September 14, 2018. From June 24, 2019, the Veteran's chronic sinusitis manifested in more than 6 non-incapacitating episodes per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and potential toxic exposure issues.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for cluster headaches on an extraschedular basis was denied. The Board found that the current schedular evaluation adequately considers the Veteran's symptoms and their impact on his employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability, migraines, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and dysthymic disorder due to new evidence provided by the Veteran's attorney. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, cervical disc disease, and migraines are all granted service connection. The Veteran is also remanded for additional audiograms to determine the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and a VA examination to assess the severity of his broken right hand disability.

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are rated at 50 percent from June 14, 2013 to February 20, 2017. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in combination, precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. TDIU benefits are granted from June 5, 2017.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for migraines, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and left hip disorder to allow VA to obtain outstanding private treatment records and schedule the Veteran for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical guidance on their etiology.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the denial of service connection for various conditions and ratings, leading to the dismissal of these legacy appeals.

For the appeal period prior to March 31, 2020, the Veteran's headaches were rated as noncompensable.,From March 31, 2020 to March 29, 2022, a rating in excess of 30 percent for headaches was denied.,As of March 30, 2022, the Veteran is now rated at 50 percent for his headaches.

The Veteran's headache disability, rheumatoid arthritis with fevers and chills, and cystoid macular edema, ocular hypertension, and chorioretinal scarring with cataracts are all granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's tension headaches are granted service connection. Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, bilateral dry eyes with an allergic component, and obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

The Board has decided that remand is necessary to obtain medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected conditions and their potential contribution to his death, as well as to attempt to obtain relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's headaches are found to have started in service and granted service connection.,Service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome of the cervical spine is denied as there is no evidence it began during service.

The Board has determined that the current medical opinions are inadequate to address the Veteran's claims and additional development is needed, including obtaining service treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his migraine headaches.

The appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, tinnitus, left knee tendonitis/tendinosis, and left ankle sprain residuals are dismissed. The appeals regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, TBI with associated headaches and sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain, right knee tendonitis (limitation of extension), and right knee tendonitis (limitation of flexion) are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with substance abuse, headaches, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI, bilateral knees, left metatarsal avulsion residuals, left wrist condition, and migraines are being remanded for further evaluation due to the potential worsening of these conditions.,The Veteran's rib/sternum condition, left ankle condition, bilateral shoulder conditions, insomnia, and kidney condition (claimed as rhabdomyolysis) are also being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for an acquired psychiatric disability, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea. However, the right knee disability, left eye disability, back disability, TDIU claim, and left knee disability remain denied.