Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and tension headache disorder are service-connected. The heart disability, throat disability, and back disability claims have been denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran's migraine headaches are also found to be related to his active service.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected craniofacial fibrous dysplasia with chronic headaches is rated at 50% effective April 1, 2014. Prior to that date, the condition was not considered severe enough for a higher rating.

The Veteran's headaches and numbness in the lower legs and lower back are not considered to be due to VA carelessness, negligence or similar fault. The condition is deemed to have resulted from a pre-existing issue unrelated to the spinal tap performed at the VA Hospital.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine disability and sleep apnea are service connected as they were incurred during his active duty.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since November 27, 2009. The rating for his post-concussion syndrome with residual headaches is unknown due to the lack of a clear service connection theory.

The Veteran's service-connected IBS renders him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the claim for major depressive disorder is no longer in dispute. Service connection has been established for a spinal disability (S1 grade 1 spondylolisthesis with symptomatology that manifested within one year of separation from active duty). The Veteran's weight loss condition does not manifest during or as a result of active military service, and the claim for chest pain is reopened but denied. Evidence received since the September 1997 rating decision is both new and material and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder pain, bilateral knee pain, headaches, and sinusitis.

The Veteran is granted service connection for migraines and cervical spine disability, but denied service connection for left elbow disability. Service connection was established for migraines due to continuity of symptoms since service. The Board found no credible evidence linking the current cervical spine or left elbow disabilities to service.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disorders, as well as his migraine headaches and stomach disorder (Barrett's Esophagus with Gastritis and Esophagitis), are considered to be due to undiagnosed illnesses or other qualifying chronic disabilities related to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.,The Veteran served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, which includes Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and airspace above these locations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for service connection for restless leg syndrome, a headache disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral hip disorder prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches and residuals of cystic acne vulgaris has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of headaches, which is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), a seizure disorder, and migraine headaches. The effective date of any future grant of service connection would be determined based on when the application was filed.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal before a decision could be made.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymic disorder with anxiety, bipolar disorder, and a personality disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records, as well as a new rating decision based on the updated evidence.

The Veteran's initial claim for headaches was denied in 1997 and reopened in 2012. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at January 9, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, headache disability, and GERD have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. The headaches are rated at 30% since they cause more than one migraine per month but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of severe economic inadaptability. The GERD has required continuous medication but does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that an effective date of August 13, 2008 is warranted for the award of a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.