Migraines & headaches decisions — 2015

The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches have not manifested as prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months, and thus do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal of entitlement to service connection for migraine headaches has been withdrawn. The issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded for issuance of a statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims for bilateral hearing loss and nervous disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees.,Service connection is also granted for migraine headaches as secondary to service-connected PTSD, fibromyalgia, and/or degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with spinal stenosis. Service connection is also granted for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for headaches and a brain hemorrhage, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness is being remanded for additional development.

The claims for increased rating for IBS, reopening of the claim for bilateral knee disability, and reopening of the claim for headaches are REMANDED.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain private treatment records and VA treatment records, as well as arrange for new examinations. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after the completion of these tasks.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after all available evidence is obtained.

During the entire appeal period, the Veteran's headaches have been rated at 50 percent disabling based on very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The issues of service connection for various other conditions due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disabilities have also been addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sleep apnea, headache disorder, or an acquired psychiatric disorder. The service treatment records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions during active duty. The medical evidence shows that the Veteran was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 2012 and no nexus has been established between her current conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for migraines with aura, but denied an initial compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's heart disorder and headache claims are being reviewed again with new medical examinations.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the initial compensable rating for service-connected Traumatic Brain Injury and the increased rating for service-connected Headaches, including whether the reduction from 30 percent to 10 percent effective December 1, 2010 was proper. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to decide these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not considered to have caused or contributed substantially to his death due to cardiopulmonary arrest. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of clear and unmistakable error in prior decisions regarding his disability ratings, nor is there any basis for reopening claims based on new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's migraine headaches, finding that his preexisting condition was aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches, but denied his earlier effective date claim. The Veteran is entitled to a higher rating for his migraine headaches, but not an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, headaches, eye aches, and urinary disabilities were denied as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board found that the current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for posttraumatic organic brain disease, traumatic brain injury with vertigo, migraine headaches associated with TBI with vertigo, and bilateral tinnitus associated with TBI with vertigo prior to October 23, 2008 are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine and tension headaches are productive of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks, resulting in severe economic inadaptability. The Board has granted a 50% rating for the period from October 19, 2006.