Migraines & headaches decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service connection determinations and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, bilateral esotropia, need for aid and attendance, and specially adapted housing.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The Veteran's appeal is currently in process and not decided.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for chronic bilateral hearing loss disability and chronic tinnitus have been withdrawn. The appeal for service connection for chronic head injury residuals is being remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are evaluated at a 30 percent rating since March 1, 2004, based on characteristic prostrating attacks occurring at least twice a month.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were granted, with the exception of her claim for a left hip disability. The headaches, stress fractures or shin splints with probable neuropathy, back lipomas, and psychiatric disabilities (depression and PTSD) are all found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inconsistencies in his employment history and the need for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hip and low back disabilities did not have onset in service or were not caused by his active military service. The right shoulder, headaches, and anxiety conditions are also denied.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed cardiac disability, left ear hearing loss, headaches, arthralgias and body joint popping, and throat muscle swelling. The claims are being remanded for these examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for headaches and a higher evaluation for PTSD. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied as there were no pending requests for service connection prior to February 13, 2004, when the Veteran filed his claim. The claim for a higher evaluation for PTSD is being remanded.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 30 percent effective May 23, 2011. Prior to that date, the rating was 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection for GERD is granted, and the Board finds that his other service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable. The TDIU issue will be remanded to allow for a determination of whether all service-connected disabilities, considered in combination, render the Veteran unemployable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for headaches, chronic bronchitis, right hip disability, and left hip disability. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions, and there was no evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was granted, with the effective date being February 19, 2009. The Veteran is now rated at 40 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder.,There is no evidence of a right foot disorder related to military service or a service connected disability. The Veteran's right ankle disorder was also examined and not diagnosed.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches, vertigo, hypertension, and coronary artery disease are all related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating than 30 percent for his service-connected headaches. The appeals for dizziness and temporomandibular joint dysfunction were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that would support the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected post-traumatic headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has been granted.