Migraines & headaches decisions — 2010

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches and respiratory disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The appeals for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The decision did not address the claim for service connection for boils, bilateral upper inside thighs.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection on all three issues at the June 2010 hearing.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to issue a statement of the case on the Veteran's claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and hip disorders, as well as for migraines, photophobia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and PTSD), and a stomach disorder. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated at 30 percent since May 4, 2005. The Board finds that the evidence supports this rating based on the frequency and severity of his prostrating attacks.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and peripheral neuropathy of the fingers of both hands are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and they are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of his claimed shoulder, knee, and headache disabilities as well as the severity of his service-connected thoracolumbar strain.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for migraine headaches and bilateral postoperative gynecomastia was dismissed due to the Veteran requesting withdrawal of his appeal. The TDIU claim remains on appeal.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 8100. Service connection for arthritis of the hands is granted.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's current complaints of headaches with his military service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied service connection for headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete examination and treatment records, as well as the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a noncompensable (30%) level since May 18, 2004. The Board finds that the symptoms associated with his migraines most nearly approximate the criteria required for a 30% disability rating.

The Veteran's traumatic brain injury, manifested by migraine-type headaches and memory loss, is etiologically due to service. Service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he was not unemployable prior to November 12, 1991.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of either foot or lower extremity, and the Board finds that his inability to walk without crutches is due to spinal conditions rather than a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on April 1, 2009 are granted as the treatment was deemed necessary due to a reasonable expectation of immediate medical attention being hazardous to life or health.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated as 30 percent disabling since August 5, 2005. The Board found that the Veteran's disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on very frequent, completely prostrating, and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including review of new evidence submitted by the Veteran and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case.