Migraines & headaches Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for brucellosis and related secondary conditions must be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the initial rating decisions. The Veteran was exposed to Southwest Asia during his military service, but the medical opinion provided did not adequately address this exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's headache disability, which is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating, and he failed to establish service connection for hypertension, headaches, sleep apnea, neck condition, or knee conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for migraines due to inadequate examination and conclusions by the November 2024 examiner. The Veteran's claim must be reconsidered with new examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent, as the evidence does not show that his hearing acuity has worsened since a prior examination in January 2023.,For migraine headaches, the Veteran was found to have characteristic prostrating attacks averaging once per month over the last several months, warranting a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at a maximum of 10 percent, and her hyperacusis is separately rated at a maximum of 10 percent. The Veteran does not have any issues related to service connection or exposure basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition and headache condition due to a duty-to-assist error.

The motion to revise or reverse a July 2017 rating decision, based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE), concerning the effective date assigned for the grant of service connection for migraine headaches is dismissed without prejudice to refiling.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for migraine and tension headaches due to insufficient medical opinion in the January 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's service connection for migraine headaches has been granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA compensation standards.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and earlier effective dates for various disabilities, including erectile dysfunction, migraines, hip disorders, lower extremity disorders, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder (including alcohol use disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, somatic symptoms disorder and depressive disorder), lateral epicondylitis of the right elbow, left wrist pain with carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist pain with carpal tunnel syndrome, sleep apnea, tension headaches, and chronic bronchitis have been granted service connection.,The Veteran's chronic bronchitis was not manifest during service and is not related to his active service.

An effective date of April 11, 2022, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for a headache disorder is granted. A 30 percent rating, but no more, for a headache disorder is granted.

The Veteran's PFB, left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, and tension headaches are all denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,Specifically, the evidence does not show that the Veteran meets the requirements for an increased rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's recurrent headache disability, including its relationship to active service and other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent, which is the highest rating allowed under VA regulations. The Board found that his very frequent and prolonged attacks were productive of severe economic inadaptability, granting him this higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted a 50% disability rating effective July 31, 2018. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied.

The Veteran's right elbow lateral epicondylitis, chronic rhinitis, right knee strain (limitation of flexion), painful scar from hernia repair, hypertension, lumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity hypoesthesia and paresthesia, left lower extremity hypoesthesia and paresthesia, left knee disorder, and migraine including variants are all granted. The Veteran's service connection for these conditions is established based on direct evidence or presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, head trauma, headaches, and PTSD have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had in-service noise exposure and IED blast exposures, which supported a positive nexus between his current diagnoses and service.,Service connection was denied for right ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability.