Migraines & headaches decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further consideration of his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, including consideration of any new evidence submitted since the April 2010 supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal regarding an increased rating for hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) was withdrawn. The claim for service connection for a bilateral heel disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety reaction with headaches, dizziness, and dysthmia does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for headaches is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issues of entitlement to service connection for anger problems and entitlement to a disability rating greater than 10 percent for right rotator cuff strain. The claim of service connection for cramping of the hands and feet remains denied as new and material evidence has not been presented.

The Veteran's disability rating for his head injury was increased to 40 percent effective October 23, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected migraine headaches are being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and evidence of how his migraines have affected his employment.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are characterized by prostrating attacks occurring more than once a month over the last several months, meeting the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and depression with PTSD have been granted, with a 30 percent rating assigned for each condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no credible evidence of exposure to herbicides or asbestos in service, and the current presence of diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, bilateral eye disability, bilateral lung condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skeletal arthritis, arthritis of the right hand, left shoulder, and left elbow, peptic ulcer disease, and headaches were not established.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for headaches, which he contends are related to his in-service nasal fracture. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering the revised criteria for evaluating traumatic brain injuries.

The Veteran is granted a 50 percent schedular evaluation for migraine headaches prior to August 30, 2005. The claim for an extraschedular rating remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected knee, neck, back, and PTSD disabilities were denied. The Board found that the current evaluations did not adequately reflect the severity of the disabilities.

The Veteran's asthma is service-connected, but his other claimed conditions are not. Further examination and development of the record are needed to determine if any of these conditions are related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, a low back disability, refractive error in left eye, and left eye astigmatism due to corneal scar as secondary to his service-connected shrapnel wounds. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and increased ratings for hyperthyroidism and breast cancer were denied. The Board found that the Veteran had migraine headaches since service, but her hyperthyroidism did not warrant a higher rating as she does not have associated symptoms such as tachycardia or tremor.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a Miscellaneous Neurological Disorders examination to determine if his current headache disorder is related to service or service-connected disabilities.