Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Veteran's right knee disorder, status-post ACL reconstruction, is currently rated at 20 percent and his migraine headaches are not entitled to a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of ulcerative proctitis, which is essentially a variant of ulcerative colitis already established as service-connected. The remaining claims are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of hearing loss, chest condition, left foot condition, and migraines prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Veteran's hearing loss and headaches have been rated based on their severity, but the appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for mixed tension/migraine headaches was denied in April 2001. The appeal to reopen the claim and grant service connection was received on August 21, 2009, and an effective date of August 21, 2009, was assigned.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be secondary to his service-connected tinnitus, and the issue of otitis media is granted as secondary to a pre-existing condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current left foot disability and therefore, service connection for residuals of a left foot stress fracture is denied. The claim seeking service connection for TBI, to include headaches, and basic eligibility for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits are being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the appeal for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches, hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's migraine headache symptoms have been productive of characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month over the last several months, warranting a disability rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent since the grant of service connection, with attacks occurring once per month on average. The Board found that these symptoms do not result in severe economic inadaptability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and heart murmur, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board also found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen previously denied claims for right knee disability and pes planus.

The Veteran's bronchitis and migraine headaches have been rated at the minimum compensable levels. The VA has determined that her migraines meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating based on characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The claims for increased rating for IBS and initial rating for migraines were granted, with the highest available ratings of 30 percent each.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated employment history and medical records. The claims of entitlement to TDIU are also addressed.

The Veteran's claims of earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for TBI residuals with migraine headaches, delusional disorder, and folliculitis are dismissed as he did not submit a notice of disagreement (NOD) regarding these issues.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for tension headaches from June 2, 2010. The Veteran's hemifacial muscular spasm is rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded gainful employment as of March 1, 2006. The Board granted TDIU effective March 1, 2006.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches due to potential issues with the examination provided in June 2010. Additional treatment records are needed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records related to the Veteran's tension headaches.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches, while more frequent than once a month, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they were not characterized by characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month over the last several months. The current 10 percent rating adequately reflects these symptoms.