Migraines & headaches decisions — 2011

The Board determined that the Veteran's claimed residuals of a head injury are not related to his period of active service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's current sinus pain, headaches, and bronchitis residuals are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for headaches, which he claims are related to his service-connected tinnitus. The VA has not provided a thorough examination or opinion regarding the etiology of the claimed headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities and to verify his Navy service. The issue of asbestos exposure will also be addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches were incurred during her active service, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's headaches, including migraines, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is pending.

The Board has found that the Veteran's headaches are secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a right wrist injury or disease, abdominal pain, or lumbosacral spine disability due to lack of evidence and medical findings.

The Veteran's post-traumatic headache disorder is attributable to in-service head trauma and has been granted service connection. The issue of secondary service connection for Meniere's disease, to include as secondary to service-connected residuals of a traumatic brain injury, remains pending.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is rated at 50 percent, effective March 2007. The left ring and small finger fractures are each rated at noncompensable (0 percent). The lumbar spine strain is rated at 10 percent, effective March 2007. Right foot plantar fasciitis is also rated at 10 percent, effective March 2007. Service connection for an anxiety disorder secondary to headaches was granted.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a head injury and chest pain were denied as there is no evidence of current disability related to these conditions. The Veteran's headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and hiatal hernia with esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been established but not higher than 10%.,The Veteran does not have residuals from his in-service head injury or chest pain. His headaches are service-connected but do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder associated with migraine headaches and migraine headaches, are shown to be of such nature and severity as to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities of headaches and cognitive deficits are not service-connected as they do not stem from a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has ordered further development of the Veteran's claims due to incomplete medical records. The case is being remanded for additional efforts to obtain all VA treatment records from Fort Worth and Dallas VAMCs since January 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by an accident, and not due to his service-connected conditions. However, as he had been rated totally disabled for over five years prior to his death, the claimant is entitled to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for posttraumatic headaches, and concluded that his cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities are not related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a video-conference hearing. The claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Sjogren's syndrome and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have resulted in a combined rating of 90 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due to these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The evidence does not support the presence of major or minor seizures, ulcers, tinnitus, headaches, left foot disorder, kidney disorder, colitis, or liver disorder that are related to his military service.