Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for posttraumatic headaches, finding that the current headache condition is etiologically related to the in-service physical assault. The issues of service connection for vision problems and mood disorder are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for headaches. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion on the etiology of his headaches and to ensure all relevant records are considered.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No decisions were made on the merits of any claims.

The Board has determined that an additional VA examination is needed to assess the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis with secondary headaches. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to evaluate her bilateral knee disorder claim, and addressing the back disorder and headaches claims in conjunction with the bilateral knee disorder claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing headaches and blackouts were not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection. However, new evidence has been submitted suggesting a possible aggravation of these conditions during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and arranging for new VA examinations to address the claims of hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for migraines prior to September 1, 2009 is remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records. The TDIU issue remains on appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, headaches, sleep apnea, carpal tunnel syndromes, hemiplegia, polyneuropathy, and cerebrovascular disease. The decision is based on a lack of current disability as defined by VA standards.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for hypothyroidism, to reopen his headache disability claim, and for service connection for radial nerve impairment of the left upper extremity and mitral insufficiency.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding service connection for traumatic brain injury and headaches. As a result, the Board is dismissing these issues.

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are rated at the highest possible initial rating of 50 percent, effective October 31, 2010, due to very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for cluster headaches on an extraschedular basis, finding that his symptoms were not marked enough to interfere with employment beyond severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current dental disability for which service connection may be granted, and his headaches are not related to service or a service-connected condition. Therefore, both issues of service connection have been denied.

The Board found that the February 1994 rating decision denying service connection for hypertension, left lower extremity weakness, low back pain, hearing loss, cervical spine disability, depressive disorder, and headaches was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the increased ratings for convulsive headaches and right ankle disability, expressing satisfaction with the granted evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches. The Veteran's vision problems, including glaucoma suspect, pseudotumor cerebri, pseudopapilledema, and dry eye, are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep difficulties (nightmares) has been dismissed as the claim was resolved in a September 2014 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address the etiology of his recurrent episodes of headaches, nausea, and loss of consciousness.