Migraines & headaches decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches and eczema are as a result of her period of active duty service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, which is considered adequate as it reflects very frequent and prostrating attacks.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, left knee disability, arthritis of hands and fingers, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for headaches and spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis of L5-S1 were denied. The Veteran was awarded service connection for these conditions, but the appeals are now on their merits.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records. The claim will be reconsidered based on the results of these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether an extraschedular rating should be assigned for his migraine headaches.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was found to have its onset in service and is therefore granted. The claims for increased ratings of hemifacial muscular spasm under the left eye and tension headaches are remanded due to a need for additional examination.

The Board found that the appellant's current diagnosis of headaches is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for headaches has been dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal is already in effect.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the failure to report for a VA examination, and additional private and VA treatment records need to be obtained. The Veteran's service connection claim is also being remanded as her bilateral eye disorder and traumatic brain injury residuals claims must be adjudicated first.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various symptoms, including headaches and numbness in the left arm and leg, are granted as due to undiagnosed illnesses of service origin.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of an increased disability rating for spinal headaches is being remanded to the RO/AMC, while his previously denied claim of service connection for status-post bilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy remains pending.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been manifested by frequent prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, chronic labyrinthitis, pansinusitis, headache disability, low back disability, neck disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hip disability. The Veteran's claims are pending with the RO via the Appeals Management Center in Washington, D.C.

The Board found that the Veteran's migraine headaches do not warrant a disability rating in excess of 30 percent, and her chronic vaginal bleeding due to intrauterine fibroids and vaginitis does not meet criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's headaches are likely due to his service-connected disabilities, and grants secondary service connection for these headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including a new examination and consideration of his claim under revised criteria for rating traumatic brain injuries effective October 23, 2008. The case will be returned to the Board if necessary.