Migraines & headaches decisions — 2010

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 10% since May 16, 2005. The Veteran's tinnitus has not resulted in a higher rating under the applicable criteria. His cognitive disorder due to traumatic brain injury does not meet the criteria for a separate rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been reopened. The Board finds that the evidence shows PTSD causes symptoms consistent with a 70 percent evaluation, but not total occupational and social impairment warranting a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's hypertension with chest pain and excessive fatigue is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology. The claims of secondary service connection for headaches, dizziness, and erectile dysfunction are also being remanded due to their inextricability from the hypertension claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine if his current foot disorders, headaches, and hypertension are related to his active service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition in service and concluded that the Veteran's current headaches are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a Court decision.

The Veteran's service-connected mixed migraine/cluster headaches are characterized by very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The Board has granted an initial 50 percent evaluation for this condition.

The Board has reopened the claims for PTSD, trichotillomania, and migraine headaches due to new evidence. The Veteran's PTSD is found to have developed as a result of events during active service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to her service, and the Board denied all of her claims.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to service and denied his claims for service connection for mental disorders, headaches, loss of weight, and hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraine headaches, cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, and degenerative joint disease of the knees are granted. The Veteran is awarded a 10 percent rating for lumbar strain with degenerative changes from April 18, 2006 to January 4, 2008, and an increased evaluation to 40 percent thereafter. He also receives a non-compensable rating for his scar of the anterior neck and burn scar of the right hand. The Veteran's scrotal varices disability is rated as non-compensable, while his degenerative joint disease of the left knee and right knee are each rated as non-compensable.

The Board denied service connection for obesity, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, headaches, anemia, and high blood pressure as there was no evidence of these conditions being related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cerebrovascular accident, hypertension, headaches, and heart condition. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disorder, headache disorder, left shoulder disorder, and left knee disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder) as the evidence did not establish a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are manifested by frequent, chronic attacks that are accompanied by photophobia, phonophobia, and nausea. The Board has determined that the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 8100.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and headaches, finding that the evidence supports a link between current disability and service.

The Veteran does not have headaches or sinusitis that had onset during active service, were aggravated by his active service, or are otherwise related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and review of his medical records.

The Board has determined that there is a need to obtain additional VA treatment records and possibly conduct an examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed headaches and right eye disorder. The claims will be remanded for these actions.