Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Veteran's orbital headaches, characterized by prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months and requiring medication and rest, meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due solely to the effects of his service-connected disabilities, including headaches, psychiatric disability, and eye blindness.

The Board has granted service connection for eczema of both legs. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and headaches are also found to be related to his active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to service connection, including PTSD and depression.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the service-connected tinnitus. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, and vertigo are remanded.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under current criteria. The Board denied an increased rating as there was no evidence of severe economic inadaptability due to his headaches. For the post-injury status fracture of left orbital bones, the Veteran has a noncompensable rating because he does not have any visual impairment or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his Gulf War experiences. Service connection is denied for joint pain and arthralgia, leg pain, and night sweats as they do not meet the criteria for fibromyalgia or have a direct relationship with service.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge, as the Veteran requested.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck, back, and headache disabilities are at least as likely as not related to her in-service motor vehicle accident. As such, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, which is granted.

The Veteran's tension/migraine headaches have been rated at 50 percent since July 31, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury has resulted in mild daily headaches, mild impairment of visual spatial orientation, irritability, and difficulty with memory and concentration. The Board found that these symptoms do not warrant a rating higher than the current 10 percent assigned for TBI with headaches.

The Veteran's appeals for PTSD, hypertension, headaches/migraines, and skin rash have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal of these issues.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including depression, hypertension, headaches, and sleep apnea. The case is being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration of the evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have chronic sinusitis and her symptoms are due to her already service-connected rhinitis.,The Veteran's migraine headaches were rated as noncompensable (zero percent disabling) based on characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over the last several months.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines, right knee with degenerative joint disease, and left knee osteoarthritis render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU are met.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are manifested by very frequent, completely prostrating, and prolonged attacks. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether a higher, 50 percent disability rating is warranted for the entire increased rating period on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.