Migraines & headaches decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches and Crohn's disease are not related to his military service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and awarded an increased rating of 10 percent for post-traumatic headaches. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Board found that the Veteran's brain disorder requiring surgery, paralyzing disorder, spinal cord disorder, headaches, hemorrhoids, and stomach ulcers were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board determined that these conditions preexisted service and were not aggravated during service.

The Veteran's initial claim for headaches secondary to a compound depressed frontal skull fracture was granted, with an initial rating of 30 percent effective as of February 25, 2009. The appeal is resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's residuals of a closed head injury with headaches and hemiparesis are manifested by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50% evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional action, including a VA examination and readjudication of his claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional evidentiary development, including a VA examination to ascertain the nature and etiology of any and all neurological disabilities, to include headaches and traumatic brain injury (TBI), and their relationship to service, if any.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including a headache disorder, back disorder, and psychiatric disorder, are not related to military service. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip disability, right knee disability, and migraine headaches are denied. The claim for PTSD is granted with a 30% evaluation effective from March 14, 2007.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. A VA examination is also needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current headaches and dizziness.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee sprain has been rated as 10 percent disabling, and his headaches have not met the criteria for a compensable evaluation. Both conditions are currently assigned the lowest possible evaluations.

The Veteran's Peyronie's disorder was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to February 8, 2008. From that date, he is rated at 20 percent.,For cluster migraines, the Veteran did not have evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once per month over several months prior to April 2, 2008. As of that date, a rating in excess of 10 percent was granted.,The Veteran's sinusitis met the criteria for a 30 percent rating as of April 2, 2008, based on three or more incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment.

The Board has determined that the current development of issues related to PTSD and pre-syncopal episodes is inadequate, necessitating further development. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are being remanded.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the appellant's claimed disabilities, as none are on the presumptive list associated with herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability was denied. His claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed stomach disorder and headaches.

The Veteran's claimed migraine headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, nor are they proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and consideration of her claim for an increased evaluation for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, and the Board finds that his current symptoms are linked to in-service stressors. The VA examiner opined that his hypertension, headaches, and CAD may be aggravated by his PTSD.