Migraines & headaches decisions — 2013

The Veteran's migraines have been rated at 50 percent since May 13, 2010. The VA has granted a higher rating but not the maximum possible.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for sinusitis and tension headaches, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's sinusitis is found to be related to his military service, while his tension headaches are not considered incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right eye corneal scar were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is not etiologically related to service or service-connected migraine headaches, and diagnoses of PTSD are not based upon verified stressors in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines and bilateral foot fungus. For migraines, the evidence did not establish a causal relationship to service or any service-connected condition. For bilateral foot fungus, there was no evidence of exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed headache disability, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal to the RO for additional action regarding his claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a headache disorder.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain all relevant medical records and to attempt to locate additional evidence from health care providers identified by the appellant. The claims will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The decision did not address service connection for left knee disorder or increased evaluation for thoraco-lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to decide the claims of service connection for migraine headaches and left knee disability. The claim of service connection for a low back disability is deferred until the claim of service connection for the left knee disability is finally adjudicated.

The Board finds that the Veteran's headaches are not related to his active duty service or a service-connected disability, and therefore, denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder, to include Achilles tendonitis, has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of entitlement to increased ratings for chronic sinusitis and hemorrhoids, as well as TDIU, are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board found no evidence of a current headache disability and concluded that the Veteran's assertions were not credible, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic and tension headaches have been rated at 10 percent since October 18, 2006. The VA examiner found the condition to be stable with no significant improvement despite treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's seizure disorder, memory impairment, high blood pressure, asthma, and headaches for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations and insufficient consideration of all submitted evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches, upper respiratory infections, and urinary disorder are related to service. The appeals for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for IBS and granted it. The claims for stomach disorders, incisional hernia with post-operative scar, and migraines are also addressed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left foot disability, resulting from a stress fracture sustained during active duty for training (ACDUTRA), is service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, headache, and psychiatric disabilities are not service-connected as they did not have their onset in service or within one year thereafter, and there is no causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.