Migraines & headaches decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to evaluate the severity of his tension headache/migraine disability and obtain all records of VA treatment.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities, including cervical spine disability, right elbow and arm disability, left arm and shoulder disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and headaches, were not incurred or aggravated by service. Service connection was denied as the evidence did not establish a nexus between any of these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches and irritable bowel syndrome are found to be due to her service-connected fibromyalgia, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims can be adjudicated, including obtaining SSA records and VA examinations for the Veteran's back disorder, right shoulder disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, and headache disorder.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a rating in excess of 60 percent for post-phlebitic syndrome left lower extremity, service connection for headaches and sleep apnea, hypoapnea, sleep disordered breathing syndrome, and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the VA examiner who conducted the May 2014 VA examination regarding whether his headaches are aggravated by his service-connected right eyelid scar.

The Board found no credible evidence of an in-service assault and denied service connection for residuals of a head injury and psychiatric disorder, concluding that the Veteran's symptoms are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, PTSD, and migraine headaches have been granted. He is now rated at the highest possible rating (100%) for his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings and service connection are still pending.

The Veteran's current tension-type headaches are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities, including the medications required for those disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic headaches were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury was not supported by evidence showing a current disability, and that his headaches were more likely due to depression rather than his in-service head trauma.

The Board has granted a higher evaluation of 40 percent for TMJ syndrome, effective from June 24, 2008. The claim for service connection for migraines was reopened and is now pending on the merits.

The Veteran's headaches, as a residual of his TBI in service, are granted.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his migraines do not result in severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for PTSD and tension type headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board granted service connection for Crohn's disease and found that the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune was related to his current condition. The other conditions were not shown to be directly related to service or due to exposure to contaminated water.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of his service connection claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee and granted it. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for GERD, left wrist tendinitis, right wrist tendinitis, spurs and ununited fracture of the left ankle, spurs of the right ankle, or muscle tension headaches as they are not related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a psychiatric disability, headaches, sarcoidosis with restrictive lung disease, and TDIU. The claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits was granted.