Migraines & headaches decisions — 2014

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury, tinnitus to include as secondary to TBI, and headaches with light sensitivity to include as secondary to TBI due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Veteran's sinusitis is granted as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis.,A 30 percent evaluation is granted for the Veteran's cervical spine disability. The effective date of this rating decision is not specified.,The Veteran's asthma is denied, with no higher than a 10 percent evaluation being granted.,A 30 percent evaluation is granted for the Veteran's muscle tension headaches.,A 10 percent evaluation is granted for each of the Veteran's elbow tendonitis conditions.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is denied and remains at its current 0 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new examination to assess the current severity of her migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete documentation and the need for further examinations. The issues of service connection for post-concussive syndrome (TBI and headaches), hypertension, and left foot disability are pending.

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent from January 31, 2006 to March 25, 2013.

The Veteran's residuals of a head injury have been rated as 10 percent disabling since September 29, 1992. The claim for an increased rating has been denied, and the reduction from 10% to 0% is also denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's migraine disorder was incurred in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervicogenic and tension headache disorder had its onset during service and persists, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA medical examination and updating the claims file with any relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 8100. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation as they have been characterized as occurring less frequently than once a month and not resulting in very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service treatment records and VA/Tricare treatment records, as well as for further examinations of his bilateral hearing loss, lumbar strain, muscle tension headaches, left knee strain, and right knee strain. The claims will be reviewed again after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for migraine headaches has been withdrawn. The remaining claims of entitlement to higher initial ratings for mechanical lower back syndrome, and right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded for additional development.

The Board has denied the appellant's request to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that new and material evidence has not been presented.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist is currently rated at 10 percent, which does not meet his claim for a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder and residuals of a stroke, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected GERD. The Board denied service connection for dizziness, as there is no evidence linking this condition to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records, provide a PTSD examination, and schedule another VA examination regarding his headaches.

The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to in-service noise exposure. Headaches have not been linked to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for malaria and migraines. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if he currently suffers from these conditions, as well as whether they are related to his military service or any other relevant factors.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches did not have clinical onset in service and are not otherwise related to active duty, thus denying his claim for service connection.