Migraines & headaches decisions — 2013

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 30 percent, and his nephrotic syndrome is rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of medical evidence and need for further development. The issues include headaches, COPD, and heart disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation between October 9, 1996 and April 9, 2001.

The Veteran's migraine headaches associated with posttraumatic encephalopathy have been rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has granted a maximum 50 percent rating for migraines. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is remanded due to the complexity of the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the current severity of his service-connected psychiatric and headache disorders due to TBI, as well as any other relevant symptoms. The claims will be readjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at St. Bernard's Medical Center from January 30, 2010, to February 3, 2010 is denied as the Veteran has coverage under a third party health plan and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including tremors of the feet, hands, migraine headaches, diabetes mellitus, adrenal gland disability, renal disability, hypertension, heart disease, lung cancer, and pes planus, were not incurred in service or due to exposure to herbicides. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination for his hearing loss and migraine headaches/IBS disabilities, as well as to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that diabetes, presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents in service, contributed to the Veteran's death from pulmonary embolism. As such, the criteria for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death have been met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was granted with an effective date of February 27, 2001. The combined evaluation at the time this decision was made included endometriosis (50%), migraine headaches (30%), asthma (30%), and TMJ syndrome (10%).

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for scar, residual of head injury prior to March 11, 2011, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter. The Board dismissed this claim as a result.

The Board has granted a 100% rating for residuals of a ruptured aneurysm of the left internal carotid artery for a six-month period starting September 11, 2000.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including knee disabilities, foot disability, hearing loss, and eye disability. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain recent VA treatment records. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and chronic bilateral allergic conjunctivitis and bilateral pingueculae, finding that these conditions were incurred during active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that there is a continuity of symptomatology and no evidence against this conclusion. The grant does not include any bony pathology or arthritis in the cervical spine.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left hand has been reopened and granted. The Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to establish a current disability, as indicated by medical records showing carpal tunnel syndrome. The Board also found that the Veteran's current condition is related to his period of service.

The Veteran's headaches disability, while not productive of prostrating attacks, warrants a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 8100. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for a 10 percent rating for his headaches throughout the entire rating period on appeal.