Migraines & headaches decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed headaches are not separate from his service-connected post-traumatic cephalgia (headaches) and therefore, he cannot be granted additional service connection for these conditions. The claim for sinusitis is referred to the AOJ as it was previously raised but not adjudicated.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is caused or aggravated by his service-connected sarcoidosis with sleep apnea.,The Veteran's loss of balance, fatigue, and weakness are caused or aggravated by his service-connected sarcoidosis with sleep apnea.,The Veteran's headaches were not incurred in or due to service. They are not related to an undiagnosed illness as a result of service in the Southwest Asia Theater during the Persian Gulf War, nor are they due to any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed skin disorder, breathing problems, headaches, and fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection under these circumstances.

The Veteran's migraines, which averaged four to six times a month and were productive of severe economic inadaptability, are rated at the maximum 50% disability level.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied both on the merits. The Veteran is entitled to a new rating decision based on the reopened claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected headaches. The Veteran will be provided notice of the consequences of failing to report for the examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding records and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claims are not yet decided.

The Veteran's right knee, right hip, and muscle headache conditions are being remanded for additional development to determine their relationship to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The appellant seeks recognition as a helpless child of the Veteran on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 years. The case is REMANDED due to insufficient evidence regarding his condition at the time of his eighteenth birthday.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened, and the evidence now supports this claim.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depression with psychosis), and hypertension have also been reopened. The evidence now supports these claims as well.

The Veteran's appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for a right shoulder disability has been withdrawn. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for migraine headaches and right eye disabilities are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches have been rated at 10 percent since May 2006, but the Board found that his headaches do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they are mild in severity and do not result in characteristic prostrating attacks.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a headache disorder, tinnitus, and residuals of an inguinal strain. The appeals were not granted.

The Veteran's cluster headache disorder was first manifested during service and has persisted since then, meeting the criteria for service connection. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal requires additional development and a new examination to determine the nature and extent of his right knee disorder, as well as a new examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected TMJ. The case is therefore REMANDED for these actions.

The Board denied the appellant's claims to restore her previous disability ratings for major depression and migraine and tension headaches, finding that the proposed reductions were not proper based on incomplete and contradictory medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease warrants a rating of 40 percent, as his disability is currently manifested by chronic low back pain and no more than moderate limitation of motion. The issues of entitlement to service connection for GERD, migraines, joint point, a fungal infection of the fingernails, a respiratory disorder, and an eye disorder are addressed in the remand that follows this decision.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 30 percent disabling, effective February 13, 2007. The Veteran is also granted service connection for dental treatment purposes for extraction/injury to teeth numbers 24, 25, 30, and 31.

The Board found that the Veteran's current headaches are not causally or etiologically related to service and denied her claim for service connection.