Migraines & headaches decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and potential changes in regulations regarding PTSD. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and an inadequate VA examination report.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are related to his period of active service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's muscle tension headaches and migraines are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to his military service. His benign fasciculations, likely related to exposure to sarin gas during the Persian Gulf War, have been granted service connection. The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease is not service-connected as there is no evidence it was incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating for headaches has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran seeks service connection for residuals of a head injury, including headaches, memory problems, behavioral changes and OCD. The VA examiner concluded that the residuals could not be related to the head injury in service without resorting to speculation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headache disorder is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected sinusitis, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and headaches are all denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to his active service.,There is no documentation that the Veteran was in Vietnam during his active service. The Board finds that he did not have any exposure to herbicide agents while serving in Korea.,The Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, or headaches that are related to his active service.

The Veteran's right mandible fracture is rated at 10 percent since October 26, 2004. He does not have loss of teeth or headaches that are service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have resulted in very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of residuals of a head and neck injury, headache disorder, or vision disorder that is related to military service. The Veteran's currently diagnosed conditions are considered to be unrelated to his active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of migraine headaches and service connection for PTSD were denied. The Veteran was not diagnosed with PTSD, and the Board found that there was no evidence to support a stressor related to personal assault.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and is remanding the remaining issues of residuals of neck and back injuries, bilateral flat feet, and left foot bunion.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing and clarifying the appellant's representation status.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 30 percent since January 11, 2010. Prior to that date, the claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected post-traumatic headaches have not been productive of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, thus warranting a disability rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of pension benefits was denied as he did not file a timely application, and no new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and verifying the appellant's periods of active and inactive duty for training in the Louisiana Army National Guard. The appellant will also be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he currently suffers from PTSD related to his credible stressor(s).