Migraines & headaches decisions — 2010

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 30 percent, effective October 19, 2006. The maximum schedular rating of 50 percent is not warranted as the evidence does not meet the criteria for very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks.

The Board granted service connection for cognitive impairment, migraine headaches, and scarring of the left upper forehead due to head trauma based on newly submitted information from deck logs that identified a specific incident in 1954. The effective dates are set at the date of receipt of the application to reopen.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of any head injury/headaches, including whether they are related to service or permanently aggravated by events during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of ingrown toenails and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected eczematous rash with lichenification, bilateral lower legs is rated at 10 percent. The residual scars of the right eyebrow are not disfiguring and thus do not warrant a higher rating. Bilateral hearing loss does not meet criteria for compensable evaluation. The status post right tenth rib fracture has been granted a 10 percent rating effective March 1, 2006. The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent. Headaches have been assigned a 30 percent rating as of July 9, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for an additional VA examination to clarify the severity of his service-connected headaches and whether he is unemployable due to these conditions. The issue of TDIU is also raised by the record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a personal hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected migraine headaches, currently rated at 30 percent. The evidence did not show that the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches disability was so exceptional or unusual that referral for extraschedular consideration was required.

The Veteran's major depression is found to be related to her service-connected disabilities, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for migraine headaches has been remanded due to the failure to notify her of a scheduled Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after scheduling another hearing.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for migraine headaches due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal. The case is remanded for further development regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for bilateral knee disability, as well as for evaluations of the Veteran's low back and left ankle/heel disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a traumatic brain injury, including migraine headaches and memory loss, are currently rated at 30 percent. The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent rating for his memory loss but the claim for an increased rating for his migraines remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and headaches are related to his period of active military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's right eye disability, tendonitis of hands and thumbs, and migraine headaches have been granted. The Veteran is assigned a 30% initial rating for his migraine headaches.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% from November 15, 2002 to December 15, 2008. The low back disability is also rated at 50%. Both conditions meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and residuals of a head injury, including headaches, are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100. The VA medical records indicate that his headaches occur intermittently and do not require prescription medication or frequent treatment.

The Veteran's appeal is about the validity of a compensation debt arising from his fugitive felon status period, and he contests its creation. The case must be remanded for further development to address this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (migraine and tension-type headaches, major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, and irritable bowel syndrome) preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants the claim for TDIU.