Migraines & headaches decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain STRs, provide VA examinations, and review the medical history of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to be more severe than reflected by her current evaluation, and a 50 percent rating is assigned from May 27, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic disability manifested by recurrent episodes of headaches, facial pain, sinus congestion, and rhinorrhea (claimed as sinusitis and allergic rhinitis) is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic left knee disability is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn. The compensable disability rating for deviated nasal septum and rhinitis is denied. The claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been reopened, but the criteria for service connection are not met. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea remains denied.

The Board has ordered additional development due to missing service treatment records and unclear periods of service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic headaches will be reconsidered after the requested information is obtained.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for headaches and a sinus disorder due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran is required to undergo an addendum medical opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claims of service connection for the residuals of hepatitis and a headache disability, as well as for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, stomach disorder, left ankle disorder, and left Achilles tendon disorder are pending. The Veteran does not have established hearing loss related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated as 50 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100. The Board finds that her symptomatology more closely approximates the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing he currently has the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and increased rating for a deviated septum as a fracture residual are remanded. The appeal also includes claims for service connection for headaches and a psychiatric disorder, which have been referred to the RO.

The Board has granted the Veteran's service connection for fibromyalgia, with migraine headaches, colitis, and muscle fatigue and pain. The issue of TDIU is being remanded to allow for readjudication in light of this grant.

The Board finds that the Veteran's symptoms of nausea, dizziness, and loss of balance are not related to service or a service-connected disability. Therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's status post concussion due to head injury including headaches was not manifested by migraine headaches with very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability; instead, it was more closely approximate with characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over last several months.

The most probative evidence of record does not demonstrate that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that there is no evidence of chronic residuals of head trauma in service or currently, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be related to service, and his erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to a service-connected condition. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis, continuous body aches and joint pains, gastrointestinal disorder, migraine headaches, skin rash, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issues of service connection for migraine headaches, the propriety of reducing the disability rating for a heart disability from 100 percent to 60 percent, and entitlement to a compensable rating for hypertension.