Migraines & headaches decisions — 2014

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an injury to the right knuckle, a right shoulder disability, and headaches. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has worked part-time and his education level, training, and earned income are unknown.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, and breast lump. The claim for service connection for fibromyalgia has been granted.,PTSD was initially granted with a higher rating from July 31, 2007 to November 11, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including bipolar disorder and head injury residuals. The Board finds that the Veteran's unemployability is due to his service-connected psychiatric disability (bipolar disorder), and grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and issues, including ratings for various disabilities and service connection claims. The case is being remanded to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches as a result of head injuries sustained in service, and the Veteran's traumatic brain injury is presumed to be directly related to these head injuries. Service connection for traumatic brain injury was not established due to lack of evidence of chronic residuals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have currently diagnosed hip, pes planus, low back strain, neck disorder, or eye disorders. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's head trauma residuals did not have their clinical onset in service and are not otherwise related to active duty, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current scleritis of both eyes, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The other issues were remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's TBI, finding that it is as likely as not due to injuries sustained during his period of active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of service connection for a left elbow disability, right knee disability, chronic headaches, and an undiagnosed illness manifested by headaches and joint pain, as well as the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for hypertension.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of March 27, 2008 for the award of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected PTSD and headaches.

The Veteran's PTSD with cognitive disorder is rated at 50 percent disabling since June 22, 2010. The rating will remain at this level as the symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated at 30% since July 7, 2009.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, increased ratings for cognitive disorder, depression and anxiety, cerebrovascular accident with right hand tremor, headaches, and bilateral hearing loss have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records, as well as consideration of his claims for an increased rating for traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability is being remanded to the AOJ.,Service connection for headache disorder was denied. The Veteran's claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic headaches have been productive of frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, but have not met the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating due to lack of severe economic inadaptability. The Board found that the schedular evaluation adequately described his disability level.