Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration due to a lack of adequate consideration of whether VA examination was required and for obtaining Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II are being reviewed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a right ankle sprain, left hip sciatica, and migraine headaches have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of residuals of traumatic brain injury with migraine headaches was denied as there was no clear and unmistakable error in the July 1999 rating decision, which is final.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, including headache, is denied as there are no current disabilities related to his in-service head injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, digestive disorder, intervertebral disc syndrome of the left lower extremity, chronic sinusitis, digestive disorder (impaired sphincter control), lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease and intervertebral disc syndrome, and hemorrhoids, met the percentage requirements for a TDIU from February 27, 2012 to December 10, 2014.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot/toenail disability and a headache disability. The Veteran's current complaints of these conditions, along with his in-service symptoms and continuity of symptomatology since service, raise a reasonable possibility that they may be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for chronic cluster headaches and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remain pending.

The Veteran's headaches and hypertension were not rated higher than the assigned percentages. The Veteran was granted increased ratings for his varicose veins, but the reduction in rating for lumbosacral strain from 20% to 10% is denied.

The Veteran's TBI and headaches are granted service connection. He is also granted initial compensable ratings for his right little finger, left little finger, and left ring finger disabilities. His left shoulder disability is rated at 10 percent prior to February 2013 and 20 percent thereafter. The reduction from 50 percent to 10 percent for PTSD was not proper.

The Board finds that the Veteran's migraine headaches are as likely as not due to her service-connected PTSD, which caused insomnia and contributed to the chronicity of her migraines. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including a new VA examination for her service-connected myoma of the uterus and migraine headaches, as well as an opinion regarding whether her hypertension was aggravated by her service-connected disabilities. The case is therefore being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of her service-connected headaches with vertigo, and for obtaining any outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his TBI residuals since October 23, 2008.

The Veteran's PTSD, headaches, and TBI have been granted service connection. The acquired psychiatric disorder is not considered a separate issue as it is related to the PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression), migraine headaches, left hip disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the Veteran's TDIU claim, as his service-connected disability does not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's headaches, specifically whether they are aggravated by service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disorder, to include as secondary to various service-connected disabilities including chronic cervical strain, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and an appropriate examination.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective from August 30, 2006, based on the Veteran's service-connected chronic headaches which have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board found that the schedular criteria adequately contemplated his disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made by the Board.