Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his MDD and tension headaches, and readjudicating his claims.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a skin rash, migraine headaches with visual disturbance, gastrointestinal disability, back disability, and bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, chronic fatigue, headaches, and joint pain have been denied as these conditions are not found to be related to her service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that a VA medical addendum is needed, and the Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection and assigned a maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.,Tinnitus has been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches including migraine variants have not been shown to be manifested by symptoms which more nearly approximate very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, thus the initial rating of 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA Vocational Rehabilitation records and scheduling a TDIU examination. The issues of service connection and entitlement to an initial disability rating are also pending.

The Veteran's appeals for an extraschedular evaluation for migraines and entitlement to TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination and opinion addressing his claim for TDIU, referral of his extraschedular evaluation claim to the Director of the VA Compensation Service, and additional VCAA notice.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for migraine headaches, left knee disorder, and flat feet. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to noise exposure during service, while his current migraine headaches are not considered related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted, with the exception of his request to reopen a claim for service connection for reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the bilateral upper extremities. The Veteran is currently receiving appropriate disability compensation for his PTSD, dysthymia, left shoulder disability, low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for service-connected tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the highest schedular rating available is 10 percent, and thus no higher rating could be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle fracture warrants a rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of the initial claim. The other issues were not granted.

The Board denied all claims for service connection, finding that the Veteran's claimed conditions did not have their onset in or were not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for herniated discs at L4-5 and L5-S1, migraine headaches, and GERD. The evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and determined that a higher disability rating is warranted for the Veteran's left shoulder impingement/rotator cuff tendinitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected rhinitis, and he does not have a deviated septum or fatigue. The low back disorder was reopened on new evidence, but no other conditions were found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pelvis disorder and unequal leg length was granted. However, the claims for increased ratings of his thoracolumbar spine strain, cervical spine strain, bilateral knee conditions, bilateral hip conditions, and bilateral hand tendonitis remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated medical records. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will be reconsidered after the completion of these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations.