Migraines & headaches decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease with history of back strain does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent. The claim for increase in migraine headaches is REMANDED to allow for further development.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 30 percent since March 14, 2007. The current rating is in line with the severity of her symptoms and work performance.

The Board found that the Veteran's post-concussion syndrome with dizziness and headaches, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as major depression, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology after service or a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected cervical spine spondylosis and headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a disorder of the left hand, a headache disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The evidence did not establish current diagnoses or show that these conditions were incurred in service.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to the severity of her service-connected disabilities, which include bronchiectasis with recurrent bronchitis and pneumothoraces (60 percent), painful scars associated with bronchiectasis (20 percent), bilateral varicose veins (10 percent), migraine headaches (10 percent), varicose veins of the right leg (10 percent), and tinnitus (10 percent). The Board finds that her service-connected disabilities alone have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and grants TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an innocent acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and PTSD), headache disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, allergy, bilateral hearing loss disorder, and eye disorder are all denied as there is no credible evidence of a current disability or continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran specifically denied having hearing problems at the time of her discharge from service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of head injury with concussion, neck problems, headaches, and dizziness is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and personnel files.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of his treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of concussion and laceration to the head, headaches, status-post L4-L5 hemilaminectomy and diskectomy with radicular symptoms, degenerative disc disease, and lumbar scoliosis, and upper back pain have been granted. The Veteran has current scar residuals from a face and head injury in service, but no other service-connected disabilities are established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including shortness of breath and chest pain, a psychiatric disability, headaches, and knee disabilities are denied as there is no competent evidence of current diagnoses or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle disability and headaches have been denied. The initial rating for the left ankle disorder remains at 10 percent, while the headaches are rated noncompensably disabling until January 1, 2009 when they were assigned a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, a vision disability, and a cervical spine disability were denied as they are not shown to be related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's headaches were rated at 30 percent prior to April 29, 2009 and have been rated at 50 percent since that date. The Veteran has very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's current tension headaches are not shown to be related to his service, and the Board finds that there is no competent medical evidence establishing a nexus between any current headache disorder and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headaches, a bilateral leg disability, and back injury residuals due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to active duty service.