Migraines & headaches decisions — 2014

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to active service, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of in-service onset and nexus to service.

The Board has ordered the case back to the AOJ for consideration of additional evidence submitted by the Veteran, including medical records and other relevant documents.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding records and clarification of certain aspects of the record.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for heat exposure and TDIU are being reviewed.

The Board found that the Veteran's reported head injury during service did not result in residuals, and his current headaches are not related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, headaches, and left knee scar were not rated higher than the current levels of 10 percent. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions in a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for a VA examination and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his cardiovascular disorder, dizziness, and headaches. The examiner will assess whether these conditions are related to service or aggravated by his service-connected chronic lumbar spine strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience.,The Veteran is entitled to an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches.,Service connection has been granted for chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to service-connected sarcoidosis. The Veteran's skin disorder is also service connected as secondary to service-connected sarcoidosis. Service connection has not been established for a respiratory disorder or sleep disturbance.

The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss increased in severity during his second period of active service, and the Board has granted service connection by way of aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, finding that the Veteran's current headache condition is related to his military service and his service-connected disabilities of PTSD and tinnitus. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated at a maximum of 50 percent since October 30, 2013. The Board has determined that the earliest date upon which an increase in disability had occurred is April 1, 2010, and thus grants an effective date of April 1, 2010 for this rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current headaches are causally related to her migraine headache symptoms in service. The appeal is now with the AOJ for additional action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for headaches and entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities, headaches, and a stomach disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities, specifically Meniere's disease, GERD, and headache syndrome.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, breast disability (fibroid cysts), and migraine headaches. Service connection is granted for the breast disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disorder and chronic headache disorder were not incurred or aggravated during active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board determined that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus could not establish exposure to herbicides. The claims for PTSD, bilateral eye disability, GSW/SGW residuals, scars of the face and right armpit, and TBI were all denied as there was no credible evidence linking any current conditions to service.