Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine condition and headaches are service-connected, with both conditions manifesting shortly after his separation from active duty.

The Veteran's headaches are related to his active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for vertigo/dizziness is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the Louisville, Kentucky RO. The issues on appeal include service connection claims and requests to reopen previously denied claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and determine the appropriate disability rating for his service-connected traumatic brain injury with cognitive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has keloids on his chest and back, right ear hearing loss, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), right hip bursitis, left hip bursitis, right knee bursitis with chondromalacia, bilateral flat feet with degenerative changes of both feet, and stress related headaches. The Veteran's service connection claims are granted as his conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for the issues of entitlement to an increased compensable rating for residual, right leg contusion, entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for intercostal nerve neuralgia and entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as she withdrew her claim for increased rating of left wrist scar. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess her current headaches and plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran timely filed a notice of disagreement with the March 2010 rating decision which denied service connection for PTSD, stomach condition, headaches, fatigue, sleep condition, and skin rash. The appeal is granted as to these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue, sleep disorder, memory loss, headaches, nerve problems with shaking and uncontrollable hands, and joint pain in arms and legs were denied as they are not related to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, verifying service dates, and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after all available evidence is obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hair loss of the head and face, and headaches due to incomplete development and need for further medical examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's migraine headaches began in service and have been continuous since then, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection. Service connection is also granted for left carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to her service-connected right wrist disability.

The Veteran is granted service connection for depression as secondary to her service-connected trigeminal neuralgia. Her TDIU claim from April 1, 2012 is also granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, insomnia, and PTSD have been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a direct relationship between his service in the Persian Gulf and his current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. Service connection was denied for chronic perivascular dermatitis and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for arthritis, to include cervical spine arthritis, was withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a finding of aggravation beyond the natural progression of his preexisting condition.,Service connection was also granted for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, but the rating assigned remains pending as there is insufficient information to determine an appropriate disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic headaches has been granted. The Board also found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and a psychiatric disability, to include bipolar disorder, as there is no evidence of such conditions within one year of separation from active service, and VA medical opinions have found no link between these disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his residuals of traumatic brain injury and post-concussion headaches.