Migraines & headaches decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's headache disability clearly and unmistakably preexisted service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records, as these records may contain relevant evidence for the Veteran's claims.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for headaches and remanded to determine if it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current headaches are related to his service-connected jaw fracture. The compensable rating for residuals of a jaw fracture will also be addressed.

The Veteran's skin, headache, and gastrointestinal disorders have been granted service connection with initial ratings of 10 percent for the skin disorder, 30 percent for headaches prior to January 29, 2013, and 10 percent thereafter for the gastrointestinal disorder.

The Veteran's headaches, which are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, have not met the criteria for a higher initial disability rating.

The Veteran was granted an initial compensable rating of 10 percent for his service-connected depression from November 4, 2008 to October 3, 2012.,Effective October 4, 2011, the Veteran's disability picture more closely resembled that of total social and occupational impairment.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for various conditions, but denied them as new and material evidence was not provided to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance of another person, as he is able to function normally without the requirement for such assistance.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were rated at 30 percent from April 4, 2008 to May 15, 2011 and increased to 50 percent effective May 16, 2011. Her iron deficiency anemia and leukopenia was rated at 10 percent beginning August 4, 2010. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, the highest schedular rating available, due to their frequency and severity.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, neck disability, headache disability, and numbness of the fingers of both hands. The Veteran's conditions were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's IBS with abdominal pain has been granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent rating. The Board finds that the Veteran's left hip, low back, neck, bilateral foot, and bilateral elbow disabilities may be related to his service in the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and further development of the case.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for residuals of herbicide exposure, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been granted. His claim for migraine headaches has not been reopened. The Board finds that the Veteran's chronic bronchitis is not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his disorders, as well as the need to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including pseudofolliculitis barbae, skin rashes of the head and face, respiratory disorder, chronic headaches, right shoulder disorder (claimed as skin/nerve movements), ear disorder (claimed as ear aches, diagnosed as otitis externa), sleep disorder (claimed as insomnia/hypersomnia, diagnosed as sleep apnea), and vision problems. The Board found no objective evidence of these conditions during service or since service that could be attributed to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches was granted, with the Board finding that by extending the benefit of doubt to the Veteran, his headache disorder is related to events of his active service. The diabetes mellitus claim remains pending as additional evidence and development are required.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records. The issue remains whether he should receive an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected post concussion syndrome with migraines.

The Board grants service connection for fatigue, constant headache, muscle ache and joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness that is related to the Veteran's active duty in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War.