Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Board has granted this claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic brain injury and lumbosacral strain were denied. The Veteran's TBI residuals have been characterized by mild cognitive impairment, including memory loss and difficulties with concentration, attention, and executive functions, but no other significant symptoms or disabilities related to his service-connected condition. His lumbosacral strain has been asymptomatic.

The Veteran's TBI with posttraumatic headaches is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that an evaluation in excess of this rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia have been granted, with the presumption of exposure to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability due to his service in the Southwest Asia Theater during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of rating complex partial seizures and migraine headaches, as well as seeking service connection for arteritis, are pending.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for tension headaches is being remanded due to the need for more contemporaneous examination and treatment records.

The Board has reopened the claims for PTSD, hypertension, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's current conditions are presumed to be related to service due to their onset within one year of discharge.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches, denied service connection for night tremors, granted increased disability ratings for lumbosacral strain and right ankle disability, and remanded the issues of TDIU and reopening of service connection for tension headaches.

The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tension headaches more closely approximate frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of economic inadaptability, warranting a 50% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and medical inquiry, including obtaining addendum opinions from certain VA examiners.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current migraine headaches are related to his in-service parachute jump accident, which resulted in a TBI. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression/anxiety, manifested by cold sweats, had its onset in service. The bilateral foot disability (pes planus and plantar fasciitis) was not incurred or aggravated by active service. The bilateral knee disability was not incurred in service, nor is it due to a service-connected disability. The hearing loss disability of either ear was not incurred in service. Tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability evaluation for tension headaches, and has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen his claim for service connection for a stomach condition. The Board also found no residuals of a head injury with blurry vision related to service. Finally, the Board concluded that there is insufficient evidence to award TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical examinations and federal records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for migraine headaches and seizure disorder are inextricably intertwined with her TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for service connection and a rating assigned for headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and gastrointestinal disorder. The issues of increased ratings for PTSD, DDD of the lumbar spine (including left lower extremity radiculopathy), and right shoulder rotator cuff and panlabral tear are still pending.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for migraine headaches is 30 percent, which is the maximum assigned under the applicable diagnostic code. The VA examiners found that his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on very frequent and prolonged attacks of prostrating headache pain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including brain cyst, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, headaches, fibromyalgia, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and bilateral tinnitus, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a service-connected back disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection in this decision.

The Veteran's headaches, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and GERD have been granted increased evaluations. The sinusitis issue remains unresolved.