Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a headache condition. The Veteran's claim of service connection for depression, as secondary to her service-connected disabilities, was denied.

The Board has granted reconsideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new evidence received since the August 1994 denial includes relevant official service department records not previously considered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right leg disorder, left leg disorder, erectile dysfunction, bilateral knee disorder, diabetes mellitus, kidney disorder, headaches, eye disorder, heart disorder, prostate disorder, neurological disorder, and gastrointestinal disorders. The decision was based on secondary service connection.

The Veteran's headaches are not shown to meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations, as there is no evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks averaging once in two months over the last several months.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are manifested by prostrating headaches two to three times per month with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. The Board finds that the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's sinus condition and depression are not service-connected.,Widespread arthritis is not service-connected. The Veteran has a painful, superficial scar from the forehead laceration.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 30 percent since April 2006, and the Board found that they do not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a head injury, including headaches and dizziness, are related to military service due to exposure to explosive blasts. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of chronic tension headaches, which had their onset in service, is found to be etiologically related to his military service. As such, the Board grants service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disability was denied as there is no medical evidence showing the current condition is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing and the procedural defect in not providing a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding his claims for service connection for vertigo and syncope.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current headaches are related to service or if they were permanently worsened by her service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were rated as noncompensable prior to September 26, 2005, and increased to a 10 percent rating effective September 26, 2005.,Since May 28, 2008, the Veteran's right knee disability has not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and readjudication.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal of these issues prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The TDIU claim was also denied as it pertained to a period prior to September 15, 2014.

The Veteran's costochondritis, left ankle osteochondral defect, and allergic rhinitis are all service-connected. The Veteran is granted increased ratings for her left ankle condition and initial compensable rating for her allergic rhinitis as of June 25, 2014.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for depression and granted it. The Veteran also had her claim for service connection for migraine headaches granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected and rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The Board also granted a higher rating for his anxiety disorder, but denied other claims including those for sleep apnea and arthritis.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, meeting the criteria for a higher evaluation. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for supraventricular arrhythmia and TDIU is remanded due to the need for further development.