Migraines & headaches decisions — 2010

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on August 21, 2007 for high blood pressure and headache were found to be of such nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to life or health. Therefore, payment or reimbursement is granted.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private facility on June 9, 2008 are eligible for reimbursement due to his prior VA care within the last 24 months and the need for immediate medical attention.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his service-related head injury in 1986. The claim will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be secondary to his service-connected hypertension, and he is granted service connection for this condition. However, the Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's scar of the scalp and associated migraines are currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting a significant level of disability.

The Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for shoulder, headache, hip, and leg disabilities are granted. The underlying claims of entitlement to increased ratings for service-connected residuals of a compression fracture, C-6 with degenerative disc disease and sinusitis are deferred pending completion of the development sought in the remand that follows.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the initial compensable evaluation for hypertension was also denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for PTSD, right arm scar, skin rash, inguinal hernia, migraine headaches, residuals of a left knee injury, or low back disorder.

The Veteran's current headaches are related to the in-service motor vehicle accident, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the claimed disabilities did not meet the criteria for service connection based on direct evidence or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the issues of service connection and TDIU.

The Veteran's headaches are now rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, effective from February 27, 2006. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of her claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee disabilities and service connection for migraine headaches due to potential issues with the adequacy of the examination reports, incomplete medical records, and consideration of a temporary total convalescence rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches, as a residual of a head injury sustained in service, are service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file for VA to make a decision on the claim. The Veteran's headache disorder claim is now pending and will be readjudicated after further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a skin disorder of the feet or residuals of a head injury, to include headaches, lacerations and organic brain syndrome, that are etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's post traumatic headaches have been rated at the maximum available rating of 30 percent. The cervical spine spondylosis, frozen left shoulder (secondary to cervical spine spondylosis), and frozen right shoulder (secondary to cervical spine spondylosis) have all been rated at the maximum available ratings of 20 percent each. The residuals of trauma, right upper extremity (including right arm and hand) have also been rated at the maximum available rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are currently rated at 50 percent, the highest available schedular evaluation. Prior to February 4, 2009, he was rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 8100 for migraines with characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over the last several months.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the current evaluations for lumbosacral strain, migraine headache disorder, and major depressive disorder with social phobia are deemed adequate.