Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Veteran's left ankle strain has not resulted in ankylosis, malunion, or astragalectomy; and the range of motion of the left ankle has not been so functionally limited as to be classified as marked.,The Veteran's left hip strain does not result in any ankylosis, hip flail joint, impairment of the femur, limitation of abduction, limitation of adduction, limitation of rotation, limitation of extension to 5 degrees, or limitation of flexion to 30 degrees.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, and restored a 10% disability rating for his residual left knee scar. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development. He has requested a Board hearing, which will be scheduled.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's migraine headache disorder was rated at 30 percent prior to September 18, 2012, and since April 25, 2013. From September 18, 2012 through April 24, 2013, the Veteran received a maximum rating of 50 percent for his migraine headache disorder.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for migraines and psychiatric disorder, but denied them on the merits. The claim for service connection for a neurological disorder was not addressed as it is considered part of the same issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a pulmonary disorder, allergic rhinitis, and headache disorder were denied. The Veteran's PTSD claim was granted with an increased rating to 70 percent.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 11, 2011. The claims for hypertension and anxiety/depressive disorder were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these claims. Service connection for bilateral knee disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, hip disorder, ankle disorders, and lumbar spine disorder are all denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her cervical spine disability and headache disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal for increased ratings for PTSD and tension headaches, effectively dismissing the claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a vocational rehabilitation file.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital on February 5, 2008, are eligible for reimbursement as he met all the criteria under the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act. The emergency treatment was deemed necessary due to his severe occipital headache and difficulty with balance.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent since the entire period under consideration, and she is granted a TDIU for the entire period.,She was previously denied an increased rating for her migraine headaches. The Board has now awarded a higher rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating.,Headaches are not service-connected.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current left ankle disorders are related to his active military service. The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disabilities are less likely than not incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service injury or event.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for migraine headaches, previously rated as noncompensably disabling prior to May 10, 2013, and now rated at 30 percent beginning May 10, 2013, is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's back and neck disabilities are not related to service, as they were diagnosed after the first postservice year and do not show continuity of symptoms. The claim for migraines was remanded due to conflicting etiological opinions.,Service connection is denied for all three conditions: back disability, neck disability, and migraines.

The Veteran's headaches have been productive of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, resulting in severe economic inadaptability since the effective date of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, traumatic brain injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are being remanded due to incomplete development of the record.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and remanded the issue of service connection for sinusitis due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for a VA examination.