Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of claims for an effective date prior to September 16, 2007 for service connection for migraines and a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraines. The Board found that the Veteran currently has bilateral degenerative joint disease and calcaneal spurs in his heels which are due to his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, anxiety disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, patellofemoral syndrome of the knees, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and headaches. The appeals were decided as denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a back condition, tinnitus, sinusitis, and headaches.,While the Veteran claimed service connection for tinnitus and headaches, the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, possible migraine type, was reopened based on the submission of new and material evidence. However, his initial rating request for left knee arthritis prior to April 1, 2014 remains denied as there is no evidence showing that the current condition is related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle, shoulder, left knee, and back conditions are found to be related to service.,The Veteran's right knee condition is also found to be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, bruxism, and a neck disorder secondary to his service-connected right and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is about the propriety of initial noncompensable ratings for tension headaches and right knee strain, as well as service connection for these conditions. The RO granted service connection but assigned initial noncompensable ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's GERD is found to be proximately due to his use of NSAIDs for service-connected pes cavus, and thus granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for TBI and headaches, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his head injury and TBI sustained during active duty in 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headache disorder is secondary to his service-connected neck pain syndrome with degenerative disc disease or a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disability, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's migraine headache disability and unspecified joint pain and/or insomnia did not meet the criteria for service connection, as there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active service.,Both conditions were considered to be due to a direct relationship with service rather than being related through presumptive service connection based on exposure to certain environments or illnesses.

The Board has found service connection for migraine headaches based on continuity of symptomatology since service. The Veteran's claim for a gastrointestinal disorder and the issue regarding PTSD have been remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if any of the Veteran's symptoms (tinnitus, ear pain, headaches, dizziness, and vertigo) are related to his service-connected left ear hearing loss. The claims of entitlement to an extraschedular rating for hearing loss and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, right shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and gastrointestinal disability have been denied.,New evidence has reopened the claims for service connection for right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and conducting medical examinations to address the issues on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, memory loss, and shortness of breath as they were not found to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected cluster headaches are currently evaluated at a 30 percent rating, effective from the date of his claim. The Board finds that he has characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over the last several months.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, to include as secondary to his service-connected MDD with PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA neurological examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be causally related to noise exposure during active duty service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.