Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU and basic eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for PTSD and denied a higher rating for the Head Injury with Headaches and History of Post-Concussion Syndrome.

The Veteran's headaches, characterized by frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, characterized by very frequent prostrating and prolonged attacks that are productive of severe economic inadaptability, have been granted a 50% evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran was granted service connection for left knee chondromalacia patella, headache disorder, and irritable bowel syndrome. He does not have a current chronic fatigue disability that is separate from his service-connected PTSD.,The VA Persian Gulf examinations found no evidence of fatigue related to active duty in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations.

The Veteran's headaches are proximately due to his service-connected PTSD, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for spina bifida, residuals of a back injury, residuals of a closed head injury, migraine headaches, and cerebrovascular accidents with left hemiplegia (secondary to migraine headaches). The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine with associated right lower extremity radiculopathy was incurred in active service.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for chronic tension headaches on an extraschedular basis was denied as the evidence did not demonstrate marked interference with employment due to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and his migraine headaches with aura are also rated as noncompensable. The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent prior to November 21, 2011, and at 50 percent beginning on that date.,The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss or migraine headaches with aura. His PTSD is currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (headaches and cervical spine disability) are being reviewed to determine if they warrant special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status. Additional evidence is needed, including a VA examination and any relevant medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, render her unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are currently rated at 50 percent, effective October 22, 2013. The Board finds that the Veteran's condition meets the criteria for a 50 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of her pseudotumor cerebri and headaches. The matter of TDIU is also being referred due to its intertwinement with the issue of an increased rating for depression.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of migraine headaches has been granted with a maximum rating of 50 percent. The claims for service connection for cervical spine disability and left arm disability have been reopened, but the Board finds that new evidence does not establish a relationship between these disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining workers' compensation records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the severity of his cervical strain with headaches and herniated cervical disks.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the etiology of the Veteran's headaches and neck disabilities. The Veteran is also in receipt of service-connected benefits for his right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 28, 2011. The Board granted TDIU benefits based on the evidence showing that his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to work.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical strain, spurring and superior end-plate changes of the thoracolumbar spine, residuals of a TBI including episodes of syncope, and migraine headaches. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.