Migraines & headaches — all decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating and an earlier effective date for service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and migraine headaches.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including GERD, bilateral vision impairment, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, headaches, heart disability, hypertension, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right hip condition, sleep apnea, and urinary frequency.

The Board granted increased ratings for right and left upper extremity neuropathy, right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and hypothyroidism, as well as a TDIU from May 1, 2018 to September 19, 2019. The Board denied increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II, kidney disease stage III with hypertension (kidney disease with hypertension), tinnitus, and service connection for migraines.

The Board remands the claims for chronic sinusitis and migraine headaches to obtain additional medical evidence regarding their relationship to service or other service-connected conditions.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), but denied service connection for a right ankle disability, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, a compensable rating for renal insufficiency as a residual of rhabdomyolysis, and other claims.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a headache disorder, and erectile dysfunction, all secondary to the Veteran's newly service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for headaches and a right shoulder disability for further development, including obtaining medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for tinnitus, migraines, left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and back pain to provide proper VCAA notice and further development.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and headaches, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's eligibility for benefits under the PCAFC due to a finding that he does not require personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches were granted a rating of 50 percent, and she was also granted TDIU, DEA, and SMC for the period from March 27, 2017, to August 20, 2017.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for headaches with auras and a 10 percent rating for temporomandibular joint disorders, unspecified. Service connection was denied for various conditions including disabilities causing numbness, hearing loss, hip and spine issues, chest pain, dizziness, erectile dysfunction, psychiatric disorder, wrist disability, shortness of breath, ankle and eye pain, and sleep apnea.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a migraine disability and an increased rating for tinnitus, as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis of migraines or functional impairment related to tinnitus.

The Board granted the appeal and restored service connection for GERD with cirrhosis of the liver, cholelithiasis with chronic cholecystitis, and surgical and painful right subcostal scars, s/p cholecystectomy. The claim for readjudication of PTSD was also granted, while other claims were denied.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including abnormal weight loss, a bladder disability, blockage of the neck arteries, and others. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected migraines, as the evidence did not show characteristic prostrating attacks or completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the right-hand second finger strain and remanded the claim for service connection for migraines, including migraine variants.

The Veteran's migraines were granted a 50 percent rating due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, allergic rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, it granted service connection for headaches and remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's effective date for the increased 50 percent rating for migraine headaches is granted as of November 16, 2023.