Migraines & headaches decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his posttraumatic headaches and whether he has a TBI. The issue of entitlement to a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) will also be addressed.

The Veteran's current headache disability is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's headaches are less likely than not incurred in or caused by his service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is granted. The Veteran's initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for migraine headaches is granted, with a current rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for myasthenia gravis was granted, with a rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches disability is rated at 50% and prevents him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, which has been deemed marginal due to a unique employer-employee agreement. The Board grants a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for VA examinations and rescheduling of previously requested examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (cluster headaches and hypertension) do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, but his employment status suggests he may be unemployable due to these conditions. The case is being referred for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral hearing loss were denied, as well as his claim for service connection for headaches. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran engaged in combat and was injured during an in-service rocket attack, leading to residuals of a TBI including headaches, seizures, and cognitive impairment. The evidence is equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's hypertension and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches have been rated as 30 percent disabling since March 25, 2005. The evidence shows that the headaches are characterized by frequent attacks with characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected psychiatric disorder and headache disorder, as well as any residual TBI symptoms. The TDIU claim will also be remanded due to its inextricability from these issues.

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

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a head injury, including headaches, dizziness, and lightheadedness is granted as the evidence supports that these symptoms arose after an in-service injury and have persisted since.

The Veteran's chronic headaches were found to be incurred in service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left knee disorder due to his withdrawal. Service connection is granted for asthma and hair loss (alopecia areata) as incurred in service, but not for headaches or initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an upper back disability and bilateral pes planus, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for postconcussive syndrome with recurrent headaches. The Veteran did not have a distinct upper back disability other than that already service-connected. His PTSD symptoms were considered under the criteria for TBI.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated at an initial 30 percent since October 31, 2006. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise as to whether the Veteran experienced characteristic prostrating attacks on average once a month.