Migraines & headaches decisions — 2013

The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions that are related to his service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and denied all claims.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for headaches, fatigue, and a respiratory disorder. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to the complexity of the issues.

The Veteran's migraines have been rated at 30 percent disabling, the highest rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for mandibular degenerative joint disease with myalgia and painful motion of the jaw.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to her active military service for bilateral knee, low back, headache, or psychiatric conditions. As such, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's right bunionectomy residuals are currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Her digestive system disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, which adequately reflects her symptoms and functional impairment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's chronic headache disorder had its onset during her period of service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for service-connected headaches, finding that the Veteran's frequent and prolonged headache episodes meet the criteria for this rating. The claim of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as additional development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches and stomach disorder are not service-connected, as they were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran was diagnosed with GERD but it is less likely than not related to in-service events.

The Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities from July 20, 2005 to February 8, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and a respiratory disorder, finding that the evidence is in equipoise on whether these conditions were incurred during active duty. The respiratory disorder was found to have preexisted service but not aggravated by it.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have headaches or a gastrointestinal disorder that are etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and hence is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of frost bite, chronic depression, a nonspecific headache disability (claimed as chronic migraines), fatigue syndrome, and prostate cancer are all denied. The Veteran also had his PTSD rating increased to 30 percent effective July 27, 2006, but the claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, records review, and other development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral cuboid tunnel syndrome, bilateral patellofemoral syndrome, and migraine headaches. These conditions are all found to be as likely as not related to the Veteran's active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations due to the assertion that her conditions have worsened since their last examination by VA.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were previously denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The Board finds that the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate any of the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and posttraumatic headaches do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.