Migraines & headaches decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for headaches, irritable stomach, erectile dysfunction, and a psychiatric disorder to include depression and a sleep disorder. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss is also on appeal. Additionally, the Veteran's request for an initial compensable disability evaluation for his healed scar of the left eyebrow (claimed as a facial laceration) is currently pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his SSA records and scheduling him for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection of back strain, bilateral knee conditions, sinus headaches, migraine headaches, chronic stomach pain, and right ear condition. The claim for service connection of right ear condition remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine strain post injury with headaches and radiculopathy, left upper extremity, have not been rated higher than the current 10 percent disability ratings.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his TBI with headaches has been granted, but the VA examination did not adequately address all aspects of his disability. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical evidence and conduct a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been granted, and an effective date of March 10, 2005 is established. The Veteran is now rated at 100% for depression from October 4, 2006, with SMC at the housebound rate effective October 4, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or a result of service-connected conditions, and the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied as he did not meet the requirement of having been in receipt of total disability compensation due to service-connected disabilities for at least ten years immediately preceding his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for chronic sinusitis with sinus headaches claimed as allergies was denied. The Board found that a more appropriate effective date is May 20, 2006, based on new and material evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, headaches, joint pain, and chronic fatigue as due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability, finding that they were not related to her service-connected menstrual disorder. The decision also noted that she had a history of vaginal bleeding and underwent a trachelectomy in January 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder, migraine headaches, and hypertension have been denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

PTSD was rated at 70 percent effective January 19, 2006.,Left ankle disability was rated at 30 percent prior to October 14, 2009 and 70 percent from February 1, 2010 onwards.,Migraine headaches were initially rated at 10 percent before February 12, 2013 and 50 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his headaches, as well as to assess the severity of his PTSD, left knee disability, and tinea pedis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headache disorder is likely due to his exposure to an explosion and other hazardous noise levels during service in the Republic of Vietnam, and grants service connection for headaches.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and stomach disability, finding no evidence of a current disability related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches with dizziness was granted, but the effective date of service connection is earlier than initially thought. The current maximum schedular rating of 30 percent has been maintained.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches and a cervical spine disorder, as well as her claim for an increased rating for low back strain. The case will be remanded to obtain new VA examinations and opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it had its onset from an injury, disease or event of active service origin.,The Veteran's conduction aphasia and receptive aprosodia (stuttering) are service-connected as they had their onset from an injury, disease or event of active service origin.,There is no evidence to support the claim for a cognitive disability. The Veteran has not been diagnosed with this condition during service or within one year after separation, and it is unrelated to any injury or disease in service.,The Veteran's headache disability does not meet the criteria for service connection as there is no evidence of such a condition during service or within one year after separation.,The Veteran has an undiagnosed illness manifested by sore and tender muscles/joint pain of the elbows, shoulders, calves, and knees. This condition had its onset from an injury, disease, or event of active service origin.,The Veteran has an undiagnosed illness manifested by low back pain. This condition also had its onset from an injury, disease, or event of active service origin.

The Veteran's cluster headaches were initially manifested during active service and are now granted as service connected. The cervical spine disorder, lung disorder, and skin disorder are also found to be related to service.