Migraines & headaches decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have resulted in very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability since November 13, 2010. As a result, the Veteran is now assigned a maximum disability rating of 50 percent for her migraines.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and headaches were not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions. The Board denied the claims for these disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability previously characterized as a back strain and granted service connection. The Veteran's cervical spine disability, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and vision disability are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right wrist disability, chronic sinusitis, and headaches secondary to sinusitis are all related to service. The Veteran's current conditions have been established as a result of injuries sustained during his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches with nosebleeds are manifested by prostrating attacks occurring on average of once a month over several months, and the criteria for an initial rating of 30 percent have been met.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were incurred in service and are currently manifested.,While the current low back disability is not shown to have had its onset during service, it is related to a pre-existing condition aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including knee injury, thoracic spondylosis with scoliosis, migraine headaches, and cognitive dysfunction due to TBI, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantial and gainful employment. The Board grants a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board finds that the criteria for an effective date prior to January 3, 2007, for the assignment of a 100% disability evaluation for service-connected Generalized Anxiety with Headaches and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder have not been met.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for posttraumatic headaches, which he claims are secondary to his service-connected cervical spondylosis. The case has been remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's headaches have permanently worsened as a result of his cervical spine condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and review of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board is remanding the case to schedule a Travel Board hearing for the Veteran. The issues of service connection and reopening claims are pending.

The Veteran's minimal small vessel periventricular ischemic white matter disease, chronic headache disorder, hypertension, tinnitus of the right ear, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disorder, fungus of the feet, facial cyst, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and right arm disorder were not incurred in service or related to service.,The Veteran's periods of active service did not include a qualifying period for VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran currently suffers from a headache disability related to his service.

The Veteran's asthma was found to be incurred in service, and his claim for headaches has been reopened. The Board finds that the new evidence received is sufficient to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for residuals of a head injury.

The Veteran's PTSD and post-concussion syndrome were not rated higher than the initial assigned ratings, while his hypertension was granted a compensable rating. The cervical strain and lumbar spine disabilities received increased ratings.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, which is considered a direct service connection as there was no presumption or secondary condition involved.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a current diagnosis of migraine headaches. The Veteran's claims for arthritis in the joints other than the lumbar spine and left knee have also been denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's migraine headaches, which is higher than the current 10 percent assigned since July 2006. The evidence shows that the Veteran experiences characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of three times per week.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board found that her migraines occur approximately three to four times per month and have not most nearly approximated very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's PTSD and migraines were evaluated, but the appeals for increased ratings were denied as there was no evidence of impairment warranting higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.