Migraines & headaches decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for restoration of her previously assigned disability ratings and entitlement to increased ratings for her service-connected headaches and gastritis, as well as her claim for TDIU due to a lack of evidence demonstrating improvement in her conditions or an exception to the schedular evaluations.

The Board has denied the reopening of both claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and pituitary adenoma (Rathke cyst), finding that new evidence did not establish a link to active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist CTS, oculogenic headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a right ankle sprain as secondary to his service-connected conditions. Service connection for bilateral hammertoes is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current headache disorder, which includes migraines, vascular, tension and mixed headaches, was incurred in service due to an accident during active duty training. The Board found a continuity of symptomatology from the time of the in-service injury to the present day.

The Board has determined that further development is required for the veteran's claims, including additional examinations and obtaining relevant medical records. The case will be remanded to the RO for these actions.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service and denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and compliance with previous orders. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and an initial rating of 30% for migraine headaches, effective from the date of discharge.

The veteran is seeking a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, but the VA has not provided an examination assessing whether he can secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for migraine headaches, patella tendinitis of each knee, and gastritis with hiatal hernia. The appeals were remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are denied as there is no evidence to support a finding of an in-service event, injury, or illness that would be etiologically related to his current conditions.

The veteran's service-connected headache disability is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating for migraine and tension headaches. The appeal has been granted.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development of evidence, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the claims have been dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychogenic non-epileptic seizure disorder and remanded the remaining issues for further development.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for the cervical spine disorder prior to November 6, 1997 and increased it to 20 percent effective from that date. Service connection was also granted for a headache disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from Dr. Sharon Smith and VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and a headache disorder (including migraines) on the basis that these conditions were incurred in service.