Migraines & headaches decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for service connection of migraine headaches and chronic fatigue syndrome were denied. The claim for left knee disability was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TMJ syndrome and migraine headaches are related to head trauma sustained in a motor vehicle accident during service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and VA medical records.

The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection of a left knee disorder. The Veteran's head injury, including scar and headaches, was not determined to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are productive of characteristic prostrating attacks at least once per month, warranting a 30 percent evaluation. The Veteran's Raynaud's syndrome is productive of daily symptoms but does not meet the criteria for a higher initial evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased initial evaluation and earlier effective date for service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied, and his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was also denied.

The Veteran's initial ratings for non-specific headaches and irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease have been granted, but the rating for irritable bowel syndrome is at its maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Headaches. The claim for Headaches is pending as a new issue has been identified.

The Veteran's appeals for evaluations of his service-connected conditions have been denied. The RO/AMC will schedule a VA examination to determine the current severity of his allergic rhinitis and will readjudicate the issue of what evaluation is warranted for allergic rhinitis since March 1, 2006.

The Veteran's effective date for the grant of service connection for headaches and TDIU has been granted, but the Board found that there was not sufficient evidence to establish an earlier effective date due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from working.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are likely to have had their onset during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headaches were incurred during his period of active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed tension-type headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and cannot be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for his headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of chronic IBS, chronic head injury residuals, and a chronic headache disorder to include migraines were denied. The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted an increased rating to 20%, while his lumbar spine disability was granted a 60% rating from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2005, and a 20% rating thereafter. Separate ratings of 10% were assigned for right sciatica and left sciatica. The Veteran's trapezius muscle strain was granted a 10% evaluation. Finally, the Veteran's panic disorder with depression was granted an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's current neck, nerve, and headache disorders did not have onset in service or were caused by his military service. The Veteran was denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic headaches were rated at 10 percent from September 4, 2003 to February 18, 2010. Since then, the rating has been unchanged at 10 percent.

The Veteran's low back disorder and migraine headaches are service-connected, but her allergic rhinitis is not.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is related to noise exposure during active duty for training. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a chronic headache disability, asserted to be secondary to the now service-connected tinnitus, is addressed in the REMAND portion and will be remanded.