Migraines & headaches decisions — 2013

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been productive of very frequent, prolonged and completely prostrating attacks, resulting in severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headache and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on the relationship between current conditions and service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a deviated nasal septum with partial obstruction and granted it, finding that new evidence supports reopening of the claim. The other claims remain denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's CVID, chronic ear infections with eustacian tube dysfunction, and headaches are all service-connected. The decision is based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed headaches and painful feet are not service-connected. The hearing loss claim was also denied as there is no exceptional pattern of hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches. The claim for a back disorder is being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic headaches began during service and have continued since, granting service connection for headaches.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further action due to new and material evidence received regarding a left knee disorder, which may be related to service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran's claim of service connection for headaches is also pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic cervicogenic headaches and residuals of a traumatic brain injury are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete range of motion testing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of concussive syndrome are not shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for service-connected headaches was denied due to the failure to timely file a substantive appeal within the required time frame.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied.,A 10% evaluation for epilepsy was granted, effective March 6, 2007. A 20% evaluation was granted beginning May 16, 2007 and ending December 31, 2010.,An initial evaluation of 10% for headaches was denied.,A 10% evaluation for bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus was continued.,Service connection for schizoaffective disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder/ depression) was granted, and a TDIU was granted.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for headaches. The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's non-small cell carcinoma of the lungs was not service-connected, and his service-connected migraine headaches did not cause or contribute to his death. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical records. The issues include a claim for an increased evaluation for left ankle disability, service connection claims for left knee injury and migraine headaches, and potential entitlement to benefits under the Veterans' Benefits Act of 1974 (PACT) due to exposure to burn pits.

The Board denied service connection for headaches in January 1988, concluding that the Veteran's preexisting condition did not worsen during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and tinnitus as residuals of a head injury in service, finding that there was no credible evidence showing an onset or continuity of these conditions during service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of increased ratings for various conditions, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine at L3-4 and PTSD. The remaining issue of an increased rating for left knee arthritis with a history of patellofemoral pain syndrome is dismissed.