Migraines & headaches decisions — 2013

The Veteran's migraine headaches are productive of symptoms that more nearly resemble very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, resulting in severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing due to the Veteran's request. The issues of service connection remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a bilateral knee disorder, but did not address the other issues as they are related to different conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current residuals of a traumatic brain injury, including headaches and vision problems, that are related to his service. The June 2013 VHA medical opinion concluded there is no relationship between the current symptoms and the TBI in service.

The Veteran's cluster headaches were not incurred in service and are not related to exposure to Agent Orange. The Board finds that the current headache disability is less likely than not caused by or related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions did not manifest during or within one year after service, and are not etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was found to be incurred or aggravated in service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for migraine headaches is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the issues of service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities.

The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected chronic cluster headaches, currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records and private medical records need to be obtained, a new VA examination is necessary, and the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) should be adjudicated.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraine headaches, thoracolumbar disorder, and cervical spine disorder have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had unremitting headache symptoms since service and currently has diagnosed migraine headaches related to service. For the thoracolumbar and cervical spine disorders, the Board noted current diagnoses but was unable to provide a nexus opinion without resorting to speculation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected migraine headaches and left shoulder impingement.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including providing notice regarding secondary service connection and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea. Increased evaluations for migraine headaches and syncope are also being considered.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records. The issue of an increased rating for PTSD remains on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied. His claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD with gastritis is also denied.

The Board denied an extraschedular evaluation for posttraumatic headaches, finding that the available schedular rating adequately contemplates the Veteran's level of disability and symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches and memory loss are not related to his active service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's headaches, which are residuals of a craniotomy for frontal sinus infection during service, have been rated as 30 percent disabling since November 10, 2010. The rating is based on the characteristic prostrating attacks occurring over once a month.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and hemangioma of the left arm and hand preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board found no evidence of a current headache disorder related to the Veteran's military service or his service-connected residuals of right eye laser surgery, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the cause of death and the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The case will be remanded for further action.