Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Migraine Headaches were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's claims, including lack of diagnosis during service or a link between current symptoms and service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA social and industrial survey to assess employment capacity and a VA examination by a physiatrist to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The claims of service connection for migraine headaches, major depressive disorder, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with musculoskeletal strain of the lumbosacral spine, and musculoskeletal strain of the cervical spine with degenerative changes are still pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining his service personnel records and arranging for a VA examination of his claimed migraines.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, but further development is needed to determine his employment status and the impact of these conditions on his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches, to include as secondary to her service-connected seizure disorder. The case is now being returned to the RO for additional development and re-adjudication.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus was not exacerbated by his military service and that his headaches, cyst/tumor/growth on his head and neck, and respiratory disorder are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's headaches, hypertension, and cervical spine disorder are all found to be service-connected. The headaches have been linked to in-service symptoms, the hypertension is presumed to have manifested within one year of separation from service, and the cervical spine disorder is considered a chronic condition that has persisted since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as other legal or factual issues.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches with vertigo are productive of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, resulting in severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's onset of these symptoms occurred during her period of active duty training. Service connection was denied for allergic fungal sinusitis due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for headaches is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion from the VA examiner who conducted the November 2014 examination. The examiner must provide a complete rationale for their prior opinion that the claimed condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by in-service events, injuries or illnesses.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the AOJ for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The current rating of 30 percent for service-connected allergic rhinitis, status post rhinoseptoplasty with slightly deviated septum and headaches remains unchanged.

The Veteran's headache disorder is found to have had its onset in service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's traumatic brain injury with headaches and light sensitivity is etiologically related to his active service, including a mortar attack in Vietnam where he was knocked unconscious and hit his head on sandbags. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches did not manifest in service or within the first post-service year, and are not etiologically related to service. The Veteran's current headaches were also not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, increased ratings for tension headaches and circadian rhythm sleep disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support reopening of the skin disorder claim due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at a compensable disability rating of 30 percent, and her DDD of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that these ratings adequately reflect the severity of her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists has been denied. The issues of memory loss and blackouts, headaches with visual aura due to TBI, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA neurological examination to determine the etiology of any found headache disability and whether it is related to service-connected dysthymic disorder.