Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected migraine headaches, including consideration of whether they are productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for the issues of PTSD, arthritis of the neck, low back, and left side, cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, right knee disability, headaches, hearing loss, a disability to account for joint and body aches, and sore throat. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran incurred a traumatic brain injury (TBI) during service and granted service connection for residuals of TBI, other than headaches.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for issuance of a statement of the case regarding his right eye vision disability and headaches as secondary to a right eye disability. The issues are intertwined, so both must be addressed together.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for residuals of a fractured mandible was denied. The Board found that the symptoms, including jaw and facial pain, lip numbness and paresthesia, headaches, limitation of intra-incisal motion, and impaired masticatory function, are contemplated by other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's headaches are related to his service-connected blepharitis with meibomian gland dysfunction, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 50 percent since April 21, 2015. His cervical spine disability is rated as 20 percent disabling from May 7, 2012 onwards.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of traumatic brain injury with headaches and PTSD have been granted a 30 percent rating effective from September 29, 2011. The decision also addressed the Veteran's increased rating claim for his headaches after this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tension headaches are related to her military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been productive of prostrating attacks occurring three to seven times a month, lasting for several days at a time. The Board has determined that the criteria for a 50 percent rating are met throughout the entire rating period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, left knee pain, and bilateral ankle sprains were denied as they are not related to service. The claim for increased evaluation of migraines prior to March 4, 2013 was also denied.

The Veteran's fatigue is presumed to be related to his service in the Persian Gulf, while his headaches are not considered due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at the highest possible rating under the applicable criteria, but his lumbar spine disorder does not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,His migraine headaches are currently rated as 30 percent disabling and do not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the Veteran's increased rating claims for PTSD, hernia residuals, TBI, and headaches are remanded due to outstanding evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a traumatic brain injury or its residuals, and denied service connection for headaches and depression as they are not related to the appellant's active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to a June 2014 VA examiner's opinion not providing sufficient information on the relationship between his current disabilities and military service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for headaches, COPD (claimed as emphysema and lungs), and bilateral knee disability. The new evidence received since the final decisions does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a request for a DRO hearing, and no steps have been taken to address this request. The case is now returned to the Board.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the highest schedular rating of 50 percent, effective September 22, 2009. The claim for an earlier effective date for sciatic and left peroneal and tibial nerve involvement is dismissed as service connection was already granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis, right ear hearing loss, and headaches have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to active duty service.