Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to unavailability of service treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for COPD was granted, and he is entitled to compensation based on exposure to environmental hazards during his service in the Persian Gulf War. The other issues were not addressed due to lack of information.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches was denied. The Board found that from July 1, 2010 through September 27, 2011, the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent were not met. From September 28, 2011 through October 1, 2012, the Veteran's migraine headaches met the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation. The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 30 percent from October 2, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches were not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The preponderance of evidence indicates that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his right knee disability, and therefore, secondary service connection for headaches is denied.

The Veteran's TBI residuals have resulted in a score of no more than '1' on the table for Evaluation of Cognitive Impairment and Other Residuals of TBI Not Otherwise Classified, resulting in an initial rating in excess of 10 percent not being met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess her need for aid and attendance and whether she is housebound due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic stomach condition has been reopened, and his migraine headaches have been granted an increased rating to 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including providing a videoconference hearing.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches with loss of vision, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by or a result of his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective July 24, 2006. The Board has also granted a TDIU for the period from February 18, 2012 to January 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development of her employment status. The Board will re-adjudicate the TDIU claim based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for traumatic brain injury and a sleep disorder were withdrawn. The Board granted higher ratings for right and left knee disabilities, including scars.,Headaches prior to June 20, 2014 are rated at 30 percent.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically headaches and depression, contributed substantially and materially to his death. As such, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches and left eye disability due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The case is now pending for further development.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at 30 percent effective April 26, 2012. The rating for chest pain remains at zero percent.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to inadequate examination records and the need for updated treatment records. The case will be adjudicated again after these are obtained.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for residuals of TBI, manifested by headaches is denied. However, a separate evaluation of 10 percent for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his migraines and consideration of entitlement to TDIU. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular TDIU consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination of his PTSD and efforts to obtain private treatment records. The issue of TDIU will be readjudicated after the development.