Migraines & headaches decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's b-cell lymphoma and CLL are related to his in-service exposure to environmental hazards, specifically chemical warfare agents during service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of an intravenous injection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and evidence to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an increased rating for his service-connected headaches, maintaining that they were due to head injury in service and not other causes.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU and an extraschedular evaluation for migraine headaches on initial rating basis in excess of 50 percent have been denied. The schedular evaluations previously assigned adequately encompass the nature and extent of the service-connected disabilities, including pertinent symptoms and manifestations thereof.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current residuals from his in-service head injury, but granted an initial rating of 50 percent for his service-connected PTSD with chronic adjustment issues.

The appellant's combined disability rating is 70%, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his disabilities are service-connected and do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA examinations and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claimed conditions did not become manifest during service or are otherwise related to his military service, and thus denied all of the claims for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches did not begin during service and were not caused by his diabetes mellitus. The evidence does not support a finding of any other connection to military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for headaches, which he claims are related to a head injury sustained during active duty. The case is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need to locate additional treatment records from Fort Miley VAMC.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing. The claims of service connection are still pending and will be addressed after the hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and found that the Veteran's low back disability, skin condition, and migraine headaches are related to his active duty service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, headache disorder, and residuals of hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy are related to her active service.,Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disorder, headache disorder, and residuals of hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations have been granted, with the highest rating of 70 percent assigned for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) from October 23, 2008. The other conditions received their respective initial compensable ratings.

The Veteran's recurrent sinusitis with seasonal allergic rhinitis and migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, but no higher. The Board finds that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of her service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic headache disorder or adenopathy that is related to his military service. The VA examiner's opinions were uncontradicted and supported by explanation.

The Veteran seeks service connection for neck, back, and migraine headaches. The Board has determined that VA examinations are required to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent and increased to 50 percent effective February 20, 2009.,Since November 5, 2007, the Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be related to her military service, and she is granted service connection for this condition. The Board finds the evidence insufficient to establish a direct link between her anxiety and major depression and her military service.