Migraines & headaches decisions — 2014

The Veteran likely has PTSD that is attributable to his active military service, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including headaches, spine conditions, and hand/tendon disorders. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an opinion on the impact of these disabilities on employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his service-connected TBI, and therefore, he is denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury. The claim for headaches remains pending.

The Veteran's migraine 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 criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right leg disability or headache disability related to his service-connected cervical myelopathy. The upper extremity radiculopathy is found to be secondary to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, hepatitis C with cirrhosis, sleep apnea, and a chronic headache disorder have all been granted. The conditions are considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a service connection for headaches, claimed as migraines or white foci of the brain, and denied the claim.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the initial rating for his right long finger disability and a higher rating after January 23, 2013 was denied by the Board.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims for service connection can be adjudicated.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, arthritis of the hips, arthritis of the knees, a sinus disability, a low back disability, and headaches. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was denied, and his claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches were found to have caused characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month prior to February 12, 2010. The Board granted a 30 percent initial disability rating for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for TBI-related conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current migraine headaches and residuals of a broken rib are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression, is found to be at least as likely as not caused by improper VA treatment in February 2002.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, a neck or upper back disability, and a low back disability were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The claim for an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches was not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of head trauma and facial injury, finding no current disabilities related to in-service injuries.

The Board finds that the cause of the Veteran's death is not related to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee arthritis.

The Board found that the Veteran's residuals of a head injury, including brain aneurysm, headaches, and ataxia, were not incurred in or related to active military service.