Migraines & headaches decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, as a non-service connected disability causes his employment limitations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left eye injury pre-existed service and whether it was aggravated during service. The examiner is also requested to provide opinions on the nature and extent of any claimed residuals from the December 1986 assault.

The Board granted service connection for headaches, found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service or a service-connected disability, and awarded a compensable evaluation for diplopia of the left eye. The claim for a 10 percent rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 is moot as a higher rating is in effect.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, gastrointestinal disorder, sinus disorder, neck disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral knee disorder have been denied.,There is no evidence of a chronic disability in any of these conditions during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for updated examinations of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tension headaches with passive aggressive personality features are related to his military service, and thus he is entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing and issuance of an SOC regarding his claim of service connection for residuals of bilateral shoulder injury. The issues of service connection for hypertension, increased rating for lumbar spine strain, and entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability are referred back to the AOJ.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 8, 1995 for the award of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim was not considered until October 1998 when he submitted a statement seeking to reopen his previous claims.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and mood disorder are found to preclude her from securing or following substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a hearing in conjunction with the Veteran's claims.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's headaches to his service or a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity swelling was not considered a disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 100%, meeting the percentage requirements for a TDIU. However, the weight of medical opinion and other evidence indicates that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic headaches and a respiratory disorder, including sinusitis also claimed as allergies. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred during service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent migraine headaches. This includes obtaining VA and SSA records, as well as scheduling a new VA examination by a neurologist.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, a respiratory disorder, muscle and joint pain with tremors and swelling, headaches, skin rash, stomach disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and dysthymic disorder. The appeal was dismissed for three issues, but the remaining claims were remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypercholesterolemia, headaches, and gingivitis were denied. The Board found that hypercholesterolemia is not a disability for VA purposes, the Veteran has a history of headaches since service, and gingivitis is not subject to service connection under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for his cerebrovascular disease and its associated residuals, including dizziness, is granted. He is assigned a minimum of a 10 percent rating effective from November 1, 2007.

The Board has determined that the reductions in disability ratings for migraine headaches and GERD with sliding hiatal hernia were improper, resulting in a void ab initio status. The original disability ratings of 10% have been restored.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of laceration injury to the left hand, right hand scars from animal scratches, and facial injuries from cat scratches have been granted.,Service connection is established for these conditions as they are considered direct service connections.