Migraines & headaches decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has granted a higher 50 percent rating effective from April 27, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, right hand disability, residuals of head injury with symptoms of neck pain and headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder. However, the evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his migraine headaches.

The Veteran has been granted status as a Persian Gulf War veteran and is entitled to consideration for undiagnosed illness under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1117 and 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disability (CAD), and migraine headaches are all found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse. The musculoskeletal disabilities are also found to be related to the service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he did not file a timely substantive appeal for the February 2007 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a dose estimate of his total exposure to ionizing radiation due to his work duties and all sources of ionizing radiation (including alpha, beta, gamma and neutron).

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder and migraine headaches are found to have begun during active duty service, warranting service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of rhinoplasty for a nasal fracture and determined that his headache disorder is related to his service-connected condition. The appeal is now resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, a headache disability, lung condition (to include pneumonia), chronic eye pain, and chronic bone and body pain. The reasons were not provided in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The claims for sleep apnea and headaches are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and a cervical spine disorder, as well as his secondary service connection claims for bilateral knee disorders. The decision also addressed issues related to reopening of previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for headaches, hypertensive retinopathy, and bilateral ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations. The effective date of his grant of service connection for PTSD is also being remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability, PTSD, and headaches have been granted service connection. The urethral stricture claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current condition or direct service connection. Syncopal episodes are not considered in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to gather outstanding VA and private medical records, as well as Army National Guard reserve records. The claims will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and a disorder manifested by headaches and nausea are denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's timely notice of disagreement was not received by either the RO or the Board within the statutory period, but granted equitable tolling and accepted his December 2008 VA Form 9 as a valid appeal. The claims for service connection were decided on their merits.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his fear of hostile military activity during service in Thailand. Service connection was also granted for diabetes mellitus as it is likely attributable to events during active duty.