Migraines & headaches decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches is granted, and his increased rating claim for fractures of the right ring and little fingers remains pending.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is found to be service-connected, as it constitutes a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness related to her service in the Persian Gulf. The Veteran's trigeminal neuralgia and migraines are also found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's additional disability, including headaches and impaired balance due to residuals of two craniotomies for a left cerebellar meningioma, is not deemed to be caused by VA treatment. The Board finds that the delay in diagnosis was not due to VA fault.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a head injury have been rated at 10 percent since May 21, 2009. The VA examiner found no evidence of dementia or other psychiatric conditions related to the in-service head injury and concluded that the Veteran does not meet criteria for an initial rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to September 25, 2009 and from September 25, 2009 through February 22, 2012. From February 23, 2012, the Veteran is entitled to a 20 percent evaluation for his lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's migraine headaches were rated at 10 percent prior to February 23, 2012 and are currently rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence, including verification of his periods of active military service and VA examinations.

The Veteran's migraines have been rated at 30 percent since February 6, 2009. The appeal is granted for this rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA service. The Veteran's claims for psychiatric, thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, headache and respiratory disorders are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20% since the period on appeal, while his migraines are rated at 30% effective after December 14, 2010. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others denied.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, respiratory disability, skin disability, and neck disability based on the Veteran's Persian Gulf War service. The right ear pain claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for headaches and hepatitis with stomach problems, but has not yet decided whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is pending as both a request to reopen and an underlying claim.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be service-connected, as there is evidence of elevated blood pressure readings in service and the current disability. The glaucoma claim remains pending.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis with headaches are rated under Diagnostic Code 6522, which considers polyps and nasal obstruction.

The Veteran's appeals are being remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's frequent headaches began in service and have continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's back disability and headaches were not shown to be related to service, and the Board found no evidence of continuity of symptoms since active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for muscle tension headaches, hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle and joint pain, nausea, and hernia repair are being remanded due to new evidence received after a prior final denial.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 10 percent since January 8, 2010. His ingrown toenails do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Board did not address service connection for PTSD in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not serve during a period of war, and therefore does not meet the threshold criteria for basic eligibility for non-service-connected pension benefits. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's current migraines are not service-connected as they did not manifest within one year of his discharge from active duty, and there is no credible evidence linking them to service or Agent Orange exposure. The Board found the Veteran's reports of headaches beginning during service to be inconsistent with other evidence and therefore not credible.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations of his feet and ankles as well as his sinuses.