Migraines & headaches decisions — 2012

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of pneumonia with shortness of breath and headaches (now characterized as residuals of a head injury). The claim for hypertension was withdrawn by the Veteran. Service connection is not granted for any condition.

The Veteran's current, chronic symptoms did not onset in service and are not the result of service, to include the provision of the anthrax vaccine during service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are not characterized by very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability for the period from March 25, 2005.,The Veteran's internal hemorrhoids do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7336 for the period from October 2, 2004.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has granted a maximum schedular evaluation of 50 percent based on very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain, but denied service connection for headaches. The Veteran's cervical strain is presumed to have been incurred in service due to reported symptoms during his deployment to Iraq. Headaches are not linked to service.

The Veteran's hypertension, nephrolithiasis, and status-post gall bladder removal were not granted higher ratings. The Veteran was awarded a 30 percent rating for migraine disorder from August 18, 2010.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to evaluate the merits of the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines and Meniere's disease. The Veteran will be afforded medical examinations, and any relevant VA treatment records should be obtained.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, and a liver disability, were granted. The decision also noted that the Veteran had in-service exposure to herbicides but did not establish a presumptive basis for any of his disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current headache disorder is not related to his military service, including presumed exposure to herbicides. The evidence does not show a link between any in-service injury or disease and the current condition.

The Veteran does not have a disorder manifested by hives that is attributable to active military service. The Board finds no current diagnosis of a disability manifested by hives, or probative evidence of persistent or recurrent symptoms of such a disability following discharge from active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of chronic disability involving hearing loss or other conditions in service or for years following service discharge. The hiatal hernia preexisted service and was aggravated by an inservice injury.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Veteran's migraine headaches are not compensable.,For the period from November 27, 2006, to September 18, 2009, the Veteran has been granted TDIU status due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been assigned a maximum rating of 50 percent, the highest available under Diagnostic Code 8100, due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and depressive disorder, to include a sleep disorder, are currently rated at the maximum schedular ratings. The Board finds that the regular schedular standards adequately account for the Veteran's disability picture.

The Board found that the Veteran's current headaches are not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for tension headaches and left knee disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling VA examinations to reassess the severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities and their relationship to service-connected conditions.