Migraines & headaches decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service treatment records and scheduling a VA Traumatic Brain Injury examination.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including neck and right shoulder pain, headaches, tingling in the head, right hip pain, generalized right side pain, and numbness of the head, were not incurred during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of head injury with headaches do not warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his claims file.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a bilateral knee disorder, headaches, hypertension, and a low back disorder due to lack of current diagnoses and no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain service medical records and reconstruct the file, as they have not been able to locate them. The veteran's claims for hearing loss, post-traumatic headaches, and nose/sinus condition are being remanded due to this incomplete record.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records from Dr. Chambers and the Social Security Administration.

The veteran's service-connected headaches are rated at 30 percent since October 3, 2006. His bilateral tinea pedis is currently rated as noncompensably disabling.

The veteran received unauthorized medical care for headaches on December 4, 2005. The Board found that the condition was not of such a nature as to warrant immediate medical attention and thus did not meet the criteria for payment.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen her claim of service connection for headaches, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's post-concussive migraine headaches are currently rated at the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 8100, and no higher.,Prior to December 2, 2005, his bilateral hearing loss was rated as 10 percent disabling. After that date, it is rated as 40 percent disabling.,The veteran's claims for increased ratings are denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a video conference hearing due to his inability to attend the scheduled Travel Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's service-connected post-traumatic headaches are being evaluated for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected migraines do not warrant a disability rating in excess of 30 percent, and her claims for increased ratings for left thoracic outlet syndrome prior to December 28, 2007, and lumbar strain as of December 28, 2007, are also denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder, and the GERD and IBS residuals did not meet criteria for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent. The left thumb amputation was rated appropriately based on symptoms and history.

The Board denied an increased initial rating for headaches, currently rated as 10 percent disabling, finding that the veteran's migraine headaches do not meet the schedular criteria for a higher disability rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and the relationship between his multiple sclerosis and service.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 30 percent for migraine headaches, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, gynecological disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia and gastritis, and headaches as these conditions were not shown to be related to active duty.