Migraines & headaches decisions — 2011

The Veteran's migraines have been characterized by frequent headaches and regularly occurring prostrating attacks, but not very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The criteria for an initial 30 percent rating, but no more, for migraines have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address the relationship between his diabetes and service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a chronic headache disability is also pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and dizziness are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD and migraine headaches were granted initial ratings, but the scar of the upper back was only granted a compensable rating. Service connection for hearing loss and shoulder condition was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues related to his claimed conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to determine if the case should be referred for extraschedular consideration.

The Board finds that the Veteran's headaches are causally related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% for the entire appeal period, with three to four incapacitating episodes per month.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to address the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD based on in-service personal assault. The VA will obtain relevant medical records from SSA and schedule examinations to determine if any current psychiatric or neurological conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being sent back to the Regional Office for further action due to a request for a hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further evidentiary development, including a neuropsychological evaluation and consideration of his cognitive impairment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, Merkel cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, diabetes mellitus type II, cardiovascular renal disease, myasthenia gravis, Paget's disease, an eye condition, and hypertension have been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during active duty in Vietnam. The claim for kidney stones has also been granted as the Veteran was present in Vietnam and had a current disability.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining a VA examination and opinion regarding his headaches, low back disability, and left hip disability.

The case is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the Veteran's current disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable rating for headaches have been dismissed due to his failure to provide necessary releases for the VA to secure pertinent evidence.

The Veteran's tension headaches are manifested by pain that is treated with medication. There are no prostrating attacks and no indication that the headaches are due to brain injury or cerebral arteriosclerosis, resulting in a finding of not meeting criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to the lack of evidence establishing a link between her claimed conditions and active duty or any related periods of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine does not meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating under VA's General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.,The Veteran's tension headaches do not result in characteristic prostrating attacks averaging once per month over the last several months, thus preventing her from receiving a higher 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's tension headaches were not incurred in or related to service, and the Board finds that service connection cannot be granted on a presumptive basis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain updated VA medical records, clarify the Veteran's service connection claims, and provide a comprehensive examination to determine the nature and etiology of any cervical spine disability, migraine headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder.