Migraines & headaches decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD or a headache disorder due to lack of credible supporting evidence and medical diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic headaches has been reopened and is granted. Service connection for syncope is not established.

The Veteran's chronic headache disability and residuals of a neck injury were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The Board finds that the Veteran did not have a chronic disorder during service, nor is there evidence to support a finding that his current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, so his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disability manifested by headaches is related to his service, specifically an assault in 1989. Therefore, the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches have been rated at 10 percent since August 2002. After a VA examination in March 2009, the Board found that his headaches had decreased in frequency and severity to one per month, which interfered with work and activities of daily living. The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical services provided at Southcrest Hospital were denied because the conditions did not meet the criteria for emergency care under VA regulations.,Both episodes occurred on weekends when VA facilities were closed, and the Veteran had access to private health insurance. The Board found that the condition was not an emergency requiring immediate treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's other claims of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected migraine headaches was denied by the Board.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that there is no evidence linking current headaches to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches have been granted. The initial rating for migraine headaches remains at noncompensable (0 percent).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and ensuring all VA treatment records are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain a more comprehensive VA examination that addresses the current severity of his service-connected migraine headaches.

The Veteran's combined evaluation for his service-connected disabilities is currently at 90 percent, and he is not entitled to a higher combined evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome or headaches that are related to his period of service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder with headaches, left knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and bilateral foot disorder have been granted.

The Veteran's stress fracture of the left proximal tibia is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, and her tension headaches are not compensably rated. The Board finds that an increase to a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his migraine headaches are related to service or a service-connected condition, and denied the claim.