Migraines & headaches decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted, and his migraine headaches disability is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, sinusitis and sinus headaches, and Môniére's syndrome with vertigo are not directly related to his service or service-connected disabilities. However, the Board determined that these conditions were aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of service connection for tension headaches and additional compensation for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, as well as clarification of her employment status.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and assigned a 10 percent initial evaluation, but not higher.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a migraine disorder, eye/vision disorder, and allergic rhinitis were granted. The Veteran was also awarded initial ratings for his low back, neck, right ankle, left ankle, bilateral foot, skin on the neck, and allergic rhinitis disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain service treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury has been granted. The Board also found that the Veteran experiences headaches and memory impairment related to his TBI incurred in active service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including residuals of a right leg injury, respiratory disorder (pulmonary emboli), syncope (fainting spells), headaches, chest disorder due to exposure to paint fumes, and laceration of the left middle finger. The decision was based on direct service connection without any presumption or secondary relationship.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability and migraine headaches are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service injury. The Veteran's migraines do not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating under DC 8100.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression) have been denied as there is no competent evidence of a current disability or persistent symptoms related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, which she first mentioned in her September 2006 letter, is granted with an effective date of September 20, 2006.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee pains, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and related conditions are granted. Service connection is also granted for fibromyalgia.

The Board has granted service connection for meningioma and headaches, finding that the conditions are related to active duty service. The claim for tinea versicolor is still pending.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic jaw disability or headaches during service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right shoulder radiculopathy, and chronic headaches are all found to be related to her service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's cluster headaches are manifested by several episodes a month with one to two days requiring rest, but have not resulted in very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The Board finds that the criteria for an initial disability rating of 30 percent, but not higher, for cluster headaches have been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his headache disability and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic headaches have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent since June 23, 2011. The Board found that her symptoms warranted this highest rating due to very frequent and prolonged attacks causing severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected headaches from April 17, 2005 to October 23, 2008 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show severe economic inadaptability due to the headaches alone.