Migraines & headaches decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of whether the Veteran has characteristic prostrating attacks of migraine and the frequency of these attacks, as well as to determine if his medications prevent or only lessen the intensity and duration of a migraine.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for migraine headaches, left knee injury, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right ankle disability, left elbow disability, and right elbow disability were denied. The RO increased the rating for migraine headaches to 30 percent in September 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions meet the schedular requirements for assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the issue of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder. The cases related to bilateral hearing loss and tension headaches are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, including muscle tension and migraine types, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, headaches, and a urinary disorder as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred during active duty training (ACTDUTRA). The appellant was not considered to have served in active military, naval or air service due to his ACTDUTRA period.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for new VA examinations and additional evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, increased ratings for his degenerative lumbar spine disease and knee conditions, and an initial compensable evaluation for his mood disorder. The claim for a TDIU effective date prior to June 17, 2009 was also addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's joint pain and headaches are related to his military service, including consideration of undiagnosed illnesses or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for lumbosacral disc disease, sinusitis with sinus headaches, left epicondylitis, and a CABG surgical scar of the presternum and upper abdomen were denied. The criteria for higher ratings under VA rating schedules did not meet the requirements.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of PTSD and right ankle strain were denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of his disorders.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be incurred in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The issues regarding upper and lower spine disorders and left ankle disorder are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had its onset during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a no-show at the scheduled videoconference hearing. The RO must attempt to obtain VA treatment records from March 2011 to the present and schedule the Veteran for a new videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for atrial fibrillation and diabetes mellitus were denied as these conditions are not considered qualifying chronic disabilities that cannot be attributed to any known clinical diagnoses.,Service connection was granted for tension headaches, which had its onset in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder condition and granted service connection for migraine headaches and right wrist disorder. The claims are based on new evidence showing continuity of symptoms since service.