Migraines & headaches decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected post-traumatic headaches have been rated at 10 percent since February 6, 1997.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an examination regarding whether the Veteran's sinusitis and headaches are related to his military service. The issues of service connection remain pending.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tension headaches, finding that his current headaches are related to in-service complaints and thus incurred in service.

The Veteran's claimed urinary conditions, kidney stones, hematuria, urinary tract infections, cystitis, peptic ulcer disease, and headaches are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to his active service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for heartburn, fatigue, and headaches due to undiagnosed illness. The Veteran needs further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected, and his claim for residuals of a brain injury (to include headaches) was denied due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current symptoms and service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 50 percent since December 9, 2009. Prior to that date, his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to their infrequent and short duration.

The Veteran's service-connected vascular and migraine headaches have been rated at a 30 percent since the pendency of his claim, resolving his appeal for increased ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the claims for increased ratings and service connection are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of headaches other than those associated with allergic rhinitis and episodic sinusitis. Therefore, service connection for this issue is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with an opportunity to respond.

The Veteran's migraines have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, effective from the date service connection was established.,Service connection has been granted for a lumbar spine disability. The Board finds that the current disability is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for lumbosacral strain. The claim for chronic migraine headaches remains pending.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for migraine headaches, and the Board has determined that a remand is necessary to provide her with an appropriate VA examination and address the secondary service connection issue.

The Veteran's chronic headache disorder is service-connected as secondary to his cervical spine condition. His degenerative changes, cervical spine status post C6-7 fusion are currently rated at 20 percent and his bilateral hip disorder has not been evaluated separately.

The Veteran is seeking to establish service connection for headaches that are secondary to a right wrist ganglion excision. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between his headaches and his service-connected right wrist condition.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as her combined disability rating is 80 percent, which does not satisfy the requirement of at least one disability rated at 40 percent or more with additional disability to bring the combined rating to 70 percent or more.

The Veteran's migraines have been rated as noncompensably (0%) disabling since September 28, 2004. The Board has determined that her migraines warrant a higher initial rating of 30% under Diagnostic Code 8100 due to characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month over the last several months.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.