Migraines & headaches decisions — 2013

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as initial compensable evaluations for migraines. The evidence did not show that the Veteran experienced prostrating attacks of migraines prior to October 28, 2011.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred during a hospitalization at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from April 22, 2009 to April 24, 2009 are denied as the treatment was not for an emergent condition and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are shown as likely as not to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with his work and education background, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claimed conditions are not service-connected, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for cluster headaches is being remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression, and headaches due to head trauma. The merits of these claims will be addressed in a future remand.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic disability manifested by headaches, which are the result of head trauma or traumatic brain injury sustained during service. As such, the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, to include headaches, is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding private treatment records and VA treatment records from July 2011 to present. The appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of claim. The Veteran's major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder are rated at 30 percent prior to September 17, 2013, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent abscess of the lower back and migraine headaches, finding that these conditions are related to active duty service. The Veteran's other claims have been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine if any current psychiatric or back disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral shoulder disability, migraine headaches, CNS disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and skin disability (melanoma), have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected headaches. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the likelihood of service connection for headaches and skin condition.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at a 10 percent disability rating, but the Board finds that his condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and lumbar spine arthritis prevent her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, but she does not meet the criteria for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The case is remanded to consider whether she meets the requirements for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a TBI examination and consideration of an extra-schedular evaluation. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to August 26, 2003 remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% due to frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.