Migraines & headaches decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and migraine headaches have been withdrawn. The appeal of the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbar strain is being remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's service dates and obtain relevant TRICARE treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorder, headaches, and erectile dysfunction. The issues include service connection for these conditions as secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected, and the claim for a higher rating of his left ankle strain is remanded for further development. The remaining claims are dismissed as withdrawn.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a mental disorder, including alteration in consciousness; a seizure disorder, to include as secondary to a mental disorder; restless leg syndrome, to include as secondary to a seizure disorder; and a headache disorder, to include as secondary to a seizure disorder.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates as there is no legal entitlement to such based on the lack of a valid claim and failure to clearly and specifically set forth any alleged errors in the May 2003 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his headaches did not manifest characteristic prostrating attacks, and he is therefore not entitled to a compensable rating for his service-connected hypertensive headaches. The bilateral hip and knee disorders were also not granted service connection.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment provided by Central Maine Medical Center on June 27, 2011 are granted as his condition involved acute symptoms of sufficient severity that a prudent layperson would have expected immediate medical attention to prevent serious health risks.

The Veteran's TBI residuals, including seizures and migraines, are rated at 100% for seizures and 50% for migraines. The PTSD is rated at 50%. The rating for physical symptoms of TBI remains at 40%. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's treatment at Holmes Regional Medical Center on November 19, 2013 was not for a service-connected condition. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet all requirements for reimbursement under VA regulations and denied his claim.

The Veteran's anterior wedging of the thoracic spine is currently rated at 20 percent, effective July 22, 2014. The rating for migraine headaches remains denied.

The Veteran's hypertension, headache syndrome, and pulmonary embolism are rated at their maximum levels. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability manifested by fatigue, hair loss, bilateral hand tremors, or bilateral arm weakness. Service connection for cervical spine condition is granted as new and material evidence has been received.

The Board found that there is no credible evidence of a TBI during service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the functional impact of her service-connected disabilities on her employability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine cluster headaches and anxiety disorder have been denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for her anxiety disorder, as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned. For her migraine cluster headaches, the evidence does not support an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches did not meet the criteria for a higher rating of 50% due to insufficient evidence showing very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease, hearing loss, and headaches was denied in the February 1995 rating decision. The Board denied service connection for headaches in October 1997. Service connection for bilateral otitis media with perforation of tympanic membrane and tinnitus was granted effective August 1, 1994. The Veteran's claim for Meniere's disease was received on January 23, 2008, after the February 1995 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including consideration of an extraschedular evaluation for his headache disorder and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of updated treatment records and the need for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's post-concussion/trauma headaches.