Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service records and medical records, as well as to seek an addendum opinion regarding his eye disorders. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, right eye conjunctivitis, and acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are manifested by very frequent, completely prostrating, prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50% disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are productive of characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month, warranting an initial disability rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a 30 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the July 2009 decision. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches and migraine was granted as they are considered direct service-connected disabilities, not due to a presumptive condition or exposure. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to his request for a Video Conference Hearing before the Board. The hearing has not been scheduled yet.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to evaluate his residuals of TBI.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been granted a 50% evaluation since April 10, 2014.,For the period prior to August 7, 2014, his lumbar spine disability was not manifested by ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine and thus did not warrant a higher than 20% evaluation. However, beginning on August 7, 2014, he is now in receipt of a 40% evaluation for this condition.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all remaining issues, including those related to service connection and rating determinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headaches are more likely than not related to his active duty service, including his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches are manifested by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, resulting in severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, memory loss, and migraine headaches due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on TDIU due to service-connected migraine headaches, prior to March 22, 2012. For the period from March 22, 2012, his combined ratings are sufficient to meet the requirements of TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the initial ratings of major depression with PTSD, migraine headaches, vertigo, and left eye macular on retinal detachment, status post buckle procedure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining Social Security Administration and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches and numbness in the right forearm/fingertips has been denied as there is no current disability manifested by these conditions. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection on either a direct or secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess his current severity of lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic headache condition or heart murmur for VA purposes during the appeal period, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's seizures, headaches, and hepatitis C are not related to service or any other factor. Service connection was denied for all three conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, especially his cluster headache disability, which requires oxygen treatment, do not meet the schedular criteria for award of a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a), but nonetheless are of such severity as to make him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.