Migraines & headaches decisions — 2013

The Board has granted service connection for numbness and tingling of the fingertips and both hands (bilateral CTS), finding that it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected tension headaches, right ankle disability, cervical spine disability, and thoracolumbar spine disability have been denied. The current evaluations are deemed appropriate.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals regarding the claims for service connection for sinus tachycardia and migraines.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing due to the Veteran's request for postponement of his hearing.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected chondromalacia, left patella with limited extension was granted. He is currently rated at 30 percent effective January 4, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing migraine headaches were aggravated by his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for chronic migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and personnel history. The VA will obtain missing service personnel records, treatment records from various VA facilities, and Social Security Administration disability benefits records.

The case is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current TBI residuals, including headaches. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with related depression and anxiety are also considered in determining whether his current headaches are caused or aggravated by these conditions.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board found that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating due to their severity and economic impact.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been productive of severe economic inadaptability since August 21, 2009. The Board finds that the criteria for a 50 percent rating are met as of this date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records, including Social Security Administration and private treatment records. The case will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for migraine headaches. The Veteran's consistent reports of headache onset and continued struggle with symptoms since discharge from active service are credible, and the absence of medical evidence to the contrary supports this finding.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for residuals of a head injury, but denied the underlying issue as there is no evidence that the Veteran's current headaches are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for headaches, PTSD ratings, and TDIU effective date are being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and headaches were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability related to his service, including the Gulf War. The diagnoses are attributed to known clinical conditions not related to service.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU rating since September 18, 2010 due to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and migraines.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage rating standards for TDIU as he does not have a single disability rated at least 40 percent disabling. The Board finds that referral to VA officials for entitlement to a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability on an extraschedular basis is not warranted.

The Veteran's headache disability is being remanded for further development to determine if it is related to his service-connected conditions (hypertension, multiple myeloma, and PTSD).

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches were rated at a maximum of 50 percent from November 18, 2011. Prior to this date, the disability was rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and determining whether extraschedular consideration is warranted.