Migraines & headaches decisions — 2013

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including myopia with hyperopia, a right thumb disorder, headaches, left ear hearing loss and shooting pains, memory loss, drowsiness, and bronchitis. The evidence did not meet the criteria for establishing service connection in any of these cases.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed headache disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for migraine headaches was granted, and a higher rating of 50 percent was assigned effective May 28, 2004.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, finding that his headaches are not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was withdrawn. For migraines, a rating of 50 percent is granted effective January 26, 2012. For major depressive disorder associated with lumbar spine strain, a rating of 50 percent is granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for chronic headaches as secondary to an in-service head injury. The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of information regarding the cause of the in-service head injury and whether it was willful misconduct.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The claim of secondary service connection for anxiety reaction will also be considered.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, syncope, and migraines. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on April 17, 2009 and May 7, 2009 do not meet the criteria for payment or reimbursement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728 due to lack of emergency treatment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic headache disability has been reopened, and he is now entitled to an initial compensable rating of 10 percent for his service-connected PFB prior to March 7, 2012. The issue of whether the Veteran should be assigned a higher rating for his PFB since March 7, 2012 remains in appellate status.

The Board finds that the Veteran's stress-related headaches do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 8100, as there is no evidence of prostrating attacks averaging once in two months over the last several months. The Veteran's tinea versicolor and ingrown toenails have been granted service connection but assigned noncompensable ratings.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for TDIU, DEA benefits, and service connection for psoriatic arthritis of the bilateral hips, chronic costochondritis/Tietze disease of the thoracic rib cage, bilateral CTS, and cicatricial neuromacutis (also claimed as headaches). The effective dates for these determinations are based on the earliest date entitlement arose.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his knee disabilities, but granted separate 10 percent ratings for instability of each knee.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board found that the Veteran's current headache disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches was granted effective September 17, 2006. The Board found that the increase in disability occurred within one year prior to the date of her increased rating claim.

The Board has granted reopening of the claims for service connection for head injury, headaches, and seizure disorder. These reopened claims must be considered on their merits.

The Veteran's daily prostrating and prolonged migraine headaches are characterized by severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for seizure disorder and migraine headaches due to additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.