Migraines & headaches decisions — 2009

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the appellant has not provided sufficient evidence to establish that any of his service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing migraine headaches did not worsen during military service and thus denied service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities from January 2, 2004, to March 3, 2005, and from December 1, 2005, to September 1, 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches disability was initially rated at 10 percent effective August 8, 2002. The Board has determined that the evidence shows an increase in severity of her headaches beginning June 12, 2007, warranting a higher initial evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his acquired psychiatric disability, head injury residuals, neck fracture with neck pain, and back fracture with back pain. The Board found that these disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service due to the Veteran's own willful misconduct.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his own willful misconduct, and at the time of his death he had a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for more than 10 years. However, the Board found that the evidence did not clearly and unmistakably establish entitlement to TDIU prior to November 12, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a circulatory condition of the lower extremities (DVT), a blood disorder, and a respiratory disorder (Pulmonary Embolism) have all been denied. The Veteran has been granted service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's pes cavus is not shown to result in limitation of motion or tenderness under the metatarsal heads, and thus does not warrant a compensable evaluation.,The Veteran's chronic headaches are not characterized by prostrating attacks, and therefore do not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to an increased rating for any condition.

The Veteran's service-connected left radial head fracture is currently rated at 10 percent, and his cervical spine disability with mixed headache disorder is rated at 20 percent. The Veteran also meets the criteria for a TDIU as of February 7, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for migraine headaches, finding that the new evidence submitted was cumulative and did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's headaches are already considered in his service-connected sinusitis rating, so a separate rating for headaches is not warranted.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis, right heel hyperkeratosis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and posttraumatic headaches have been rated based on their respective service-connected conditions. The Veteran is granted a compensable rating for each condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine strain and migraine headaches were denied. The Board found that the current evaluations did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and etiological opinions regarding whether any of his complaints of headaches and memory loss are related to his service, including a possible head injury in January 1978.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, including as secondary to in-service chickenpox, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, migraine headaches, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (razor bumps) have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced a continuity of symptoms since service and provided sufficient evidence to support these findings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his current conditions.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Osceola Regional Hospital on May 8, 2006 are eligible for payment or reimbursement due to the emergent nature of his condition and the unavailability of a VA facility.