Migraines & headaches decisions — 2014

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 25, 2008. He is granted a TDIU based solely on his PTSD and also qualifies for SMC at the housebound rate effective December 25, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and examinations to assess the severity of his TMJ syndrome and chronic headaches.

The Veteran withdrew from appeal the issues of service connection for tuberculosis and claims for higher ratings for left ankle and left eye disorders and for acne. The case is dismissed as to these matters.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed tension headaches are causally related to his service-connected depression, and the Board is granting service connection for these headaches as secondary to the service-connected depression.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the conditions listed in his claims, and thus the appeal is denied.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is established and granted, but his chronic headaches and organic brain syndrome are not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service and established a causal nexus between current symptomatology and the claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for hypokalemia has been withdrawn. The claims for bilateral feet, ankle, and right knee disabilities have not met the requirements for service connection as there is no credible evidence of current disability or in-service incurrence/aggravation. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied on both direct and secondary bases.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain and migraines are not rated higher than the current 10 percent assigned, as there is no evidence of dislocation or ankylosis. The Veteran's migraines do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to their frequency.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for service connection for headaches and for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability. The claim of reopening a cervical spine disability was also denied, as no current cervical spine disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for dermatitis is granted as it began during a period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and thus meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lower back condition due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and left ear hearing loss is established with right ear hearing loss also being established.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. The event leading to his death (cerebral hemorrhage due to atherosclerotic vascular disease) was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran met the schedular criteria for a TDIU on October 30, 2009, and his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The effective date of the TDIU rating is set at October 30, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of service connection for a back disability, increase rating for post traumatic headaches, and effective date earlier than May 27, 2009 for the granting of a 10 percent rating for a service connected residual scar have not proceeded further.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for facial scars, head injuries/headaches, and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and related acquired psychiatric disability, but denied the other issues on appeal. The Veteran's in-service stressor of falling from a rope during boot camp is considered sufficient to support his PTSD diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and her increased rating claim for migraine headaches was granted with a maximum schedular evaluation of 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inadequate VA examination and for obtaining additional medical records. The appellant's need for aid and attendance is being evaluated.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for migraine headaches was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable initial rating prior to May 6, 2014 or any rating in excess of 50 percent after that date.