Migraines & headaches decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his private psychiatric treatment records from Dr. Watkins.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disability, chronic headaches, back disorder (including degenerative disc disease and sciatica), nail fungus of the hands and feet, sterility/erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and recurrent hemorrhoids are all connected to service. The appeal is granted for these conditions.

The Board is reopening the claim of entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder (defective vision) and remanding it along with the other three claims for further development. The Veteran should be scheduled for VA compensation examinations for his claims for service connection for a neck or cervical spine condition, sleeping problems, and an eye disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis and headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings or service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings on several service-connected conditions has been granted. The highest rating of 20 percent is assigned for left lower extremity radiculopathy, with the remaining conditions receiving their respective 10 percent ratings.

The Veteran's current headache disability is not related to his military service and the Board has denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's headaches are characterized by prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month, and the Board has granted a 30 percent rating for her service-connected headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including TBI and headaches, were denied as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for posttraumatic headaches and PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service injury from a September 1964 automobile accident during INACDUTRA.

The Veteran seeks service connection for migraines, a back disability, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a back disability that is secondary to his service-connected malaria. The claims are also being remanded to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is related to his malaria and post-service treatment, as well as any alleged bouts of malaria in service.,The Veteran seeks service connection for migraines that are secondary to his service-connected malaria. The claims are also being remanded to obtain opinions regarding the etiology of his peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's headaches and dizziness as residuals of a closed head injury with concussion are rated at 50 percent, the highest schedular rating available. Additionally, he is granted a separate 40 percent disability rating for cognitive impairment due to his TBI.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's migraine headaches and whether his service-connected conditions caused or aggravated them.

The Veteran's headaches, muscle twitching, and fatigue are due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained multisymptom illness as a result of service in the Southwest Asia theater during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has ordered the case remanded for additional development due to conflicting VA medical opinions regarding PTSD and insufficient review of all pertinent evidence, including private hospital records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is inextricably intertwined with her headache issue.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches were manifested by recurrent severe headaches, requiring frequent use of prescription medications and resulting in significant work absences. The Board found that the condition met the criteria for a 50% evaluation from February 22, 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to be productive of a disability picture that precludes her from securing and following some form of substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and work experience.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis and tension headaches have been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that the criteria for a compensable rating are not met.