Migraines & headaches decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed headache disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination(s) and determine whether the Veteran, based on his work history, level of education, and service-connected disabilities, but not his age or any nonservice-connected disability, is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for a hiatal hernia, a higher rating for post-traumatic headaches, and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for post-traumatic headaches. The case is being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headache disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the Veteran not appearing for scheduled VA examinations. The claim will be reconsidered after these examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic sleep disorder, initial compensable rating for left knee disability, initial rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine disability, and initial compensable rating for bursitis in the left shoulder were denied. The claim for headaches was partially granted with a 10% rating prior to April 13, 2012, and a 30% rating from that date onward.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing due to his request. The issues of reopening the claim for headaches and dizziness, as well as evaluating the skull fracture, are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury and headaches, prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for acne vulgaris was denied as her condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for migraines is pending and will be addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran is not entitled to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected tension headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since December 4, 2003.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent effective December 19, 2006. The VA determined that the evidence did not show more than characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over several months.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, PTSD, hemorrhoids, bilateral knee condition, headache disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, these claims have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between any current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, as the previous examination was inadequate.

The Veteran's headaches disability is rated at 30 percent effective from September 10, 2010.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 50 percent since August 28, 2009. The Board also found that the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU as of this date due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her migraine headaches and dysthymic disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches or a rating in excess of 70 percent for dysthymic disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing medical records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of head trauma, including headaches, is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of fractured nose and deviated septum, stress-related headaches, left thoracic outlet syndrome, and eye disorder as well as his dental condition claim are denied. The issues have been remanded to the RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed condition and no in-service injury or disease. The Board found that the Veteran did not have symptoms or a disability related to headaches in service, nor does he currently have a diagnosed headache disability.