Migraines & headaches decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a neck/upper back disability, migraine headaches, or right lung disability due to service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for insomnia and headaches, as well as his requests for higher ratings for lumbosacral spine strain with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 and cervical spine osteoarthritis, were denied. The Veteran was also not granted an earlier effective date for the TDIU.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for a visual disability, residuals of a head injury, and left knee disability. The claim for diabetes mellitus is granted.,The claim for erectile dysfunction was not incurred in active service and is not secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, bronchial asthma, lumbosacral strain, left arm radiculopathy associated with cervical strain, right shoulder acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease, residuals of a right wrist injury with fibrositis, left ankle injury, tinnitus, sinusitis, left knee injury, and cervical strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reported service history and treatment records. The Veteran will be asked to clarify his prior service, including any Coast Guard service from 1944.

The Veteran's service connection claim for cluster headaches is granted as his current condition is linked to a diagnosis within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosed bilateral hand disability and denied service connection for this condition. The claim of entitlement to an increased rating for migraine headaches is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's preexisting headaches were aggravated by service and whether his seizure disorder is related to service. The claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a current VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected headaches, which may be of greater severity than previously reported.

The Veteran's PTSD, post-traumatic headaches, and TBI with memory loss and hypersensitivity to sound and light have been granted initial ratings. The PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity throughout the appeal period. The post-traumatic headaches have not met criteria for a higher rating prior to November 16, 2008, but are rated at 30 percent effective that date. The TBI with memory loss and hypersensitivity to sound and light has been granted an initial rating of 40 percent as of October 23, 2008.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, sleep disorder, and lung disability. The Veteran's hypertension was rated at 10%.

The Veteran's headaches, which are rated as a cervical strain disability, have been found to be severe enough to warrant a 30% rating since November 29, 2009. Prior to this date, the Veteran did not meet criteria for any higher rating.

The Veteran's substantive appeal regarding service connection for various conditions was not timely filed, and the Board finds it denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are characterized by one or two completely prostrating and prolonged attacks per week, warranting a 50% disability rating. The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 30%, effective March 1, 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and atopic eczematous dermatitis, finding that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches or a compensable rating for atopic eczematous dermatitis.

The Board has determined that the issue of service connection for throat cancer has been granted and rendered moot, thus dismissing this appeal.

The Veteran's headaches are etiologically related to his service-connected depressive disorder, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issue of an increased rating for depressive disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected post concussion syndrome with headaches and a sleep disorder were rated at 70 percent effective December 18, 2012. The Board also found that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial claim for migraine headaches was denied, and a rating of 10 percent was granted effective November 25, 2010. The appeal is denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis has been rated at 10 percent since February 17, 2008.