Migraines & headaches decisions — 2013

The Veteran's spine condition and headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,There is no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's headaches were not shown by competent medical evidence to be etiologically related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headache disorder is not related to his active duty service and is neither proximately caused nor aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is required before the claims can be adjudicated, including obtaining VA and SSA records, as well as a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, onset and etiology of any chronic headaches, kidney disorder, blood disorder (anemia and hyperkalemia), and right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his inability to attend the scheduled video conference hearing. His claims for service connection are still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been manifested throughout the course of this appeal by very frequent prostrating and prolonged attacks causing severe economic inadaptability, warranting a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's current migraine headaches and right knee impairment were not incurred or aggravated by her military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal problems, sleep apnea, skin rash, and headaches are not service-connected due to lack of evidence supporting their onset or connection to active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation above 10 percent for seasonal allergic rhinitis with reactive airway disease, diabetes mellitus was not incurred in active duty, hyperlipidemia is a laboratory finding, joint pain as a manifestation of a separately diagnosed disability from the service-connected left ankle arthritis and cervical and thoracolumbar spine arthritis did not have its onset during active military service, a thoracic spine disability representing a separately diagnosed disability from the service-connected thoracolumbar spine arthritis was not incurred in active duty, obstructive sleep apnea did not have its onset during active military service and is not etiologically related to, or otherwise worsened beyond its natural clinical progression by, service-connected seasonal allergic rhinitis with reactive airway disease. The claims for tuberculosis, a corneal abrasion of the right eye, and CTS of the left wrist were denied as well.

For the portion of the appeal period extending from March 25, 2009 forward, the Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at 30 percent.

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

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder, skin disorder of the feet, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current conditions are considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's residuals of traumatic brain injury, including complete loss of sense of smell and taste, tinnitus, headaches with characteristic prostrating attacks, and dizziness resulting in occasional staggering, are rated at a maximum of 40 percent.

The Veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only has been granted due to the loss of use of at least one foot as a result of service-connected disabilities. The issue of reopening the sterility claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative changes, blurred vision, and sleep disturbances have been withdrawn. The claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are granted.

The Veteran was initially granted service connection for migraine headaches and assigned a 10 percent rating effective February 17, 2009. The Board has determined that the evidence shows an increase in severity of symptoms beginning around August 2009, warranting a higher 30 percent rating from this date onward.

The Board finds that the Veteran's headache disability is causally related to his head injury during service, but does not find sufficient evidence to support a finding of any other disabilities (psychiatric, cognitive, neurological) related to this head injury.

The Veteran's tinnitus and migraine headaches are found to be related to his active service, with the onset occurring during an in-service motor vehicle accident. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for tinnitus/vertigo, chest pains, headaches, and possibly neck pain. The other conditions have not met this standard.,For bilateral hearing loss, no new and material evidence was found. For left knee, leg, and ankle disabilities, no new and material evidence was found either.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's claimed conditions, such as spine disorder, neurological impairment, heart disease, Graves' disease, headaches, dizziness, and numbness in the legs. The appellant is also scheduled for a psychiatric examination to address any PTSD or depression.