Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the lack of identification of an available VA medical facility for his service-connected bronchial asthma and other conditions. The case will be readjudicated based on this information.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a skin disability and granted service connection for headaches as secondary to a head scar. The Veteran's head scar is not service-connected, but his headaches are found to be related to his head scar.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is found to be the primary cause of his chronic atypical headaches, and thus service connection for such is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of traumatic brain injury, manifested by headaches, is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and chronic disabilities of the knees and ankles are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hand and wrist tenosynovitis is not currently shown, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches, or an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for either Achilles tendonitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and her request for a compensable rating was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have PTSD or GERD related to her service-connected mandibular fracture, but her masticatory dysfunction due to the mandibular fracture residuals more closely approximated severe malunion of the mandible.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches and entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and consideration of his claims, including whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim for service connection for headaches.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disorder (DJD) and migraine headaches, but denied the Veteran's claims for other conditions. The left knee DJD was found to be related to service due to its onset within one year of retirement from service. Migraine headaches were also found to be incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the actual dates of service are unclear and needs to be verified. The Veteran's claims for sinusitis, low back disability, and headache disability will need further examination and medical opinions based on the verified service dates.

The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for a right knee disorder, as it is due to normal aging and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's back disability is related to his period of active military service.

The Veteran's claims for headaches, leg circulation problems, heart palpitations, nervous body system with slight tremors and seizures, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied as there is no competent evidence of a current disability during the course of his claim and appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral vision loss, a psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder), chronic headaches, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis of the right shoulder, arthritis of the left shoulder, low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, arthritis of the right knee, arthritis of the left knee, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining employment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his headaches. The TDIU claim is also part of this matter.

The Veteran's appeals for increased PTSD rating, service connection for OSA, and reopening of fatigue disorder and headache disorder claims have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The claim for a fatigue disorder was not reopened as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The claim for a headache disorder was reopened based on new medical evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD is rated at 30 percent, and the Board denied his claims for increased evaluation and service connection for shortness of breath, headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, and sleep disturbance due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty or undiagnosed illnesses.

The Veteran's back disorder is service-connected, but his bilateral knee disorders and breathing problems are not.,His left elbow disorder was resolved in-service. His acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) secondary to migraines is also denied.

The Veteran's neck disability has been rated at 30 percent since May 2009, with no higher rating granted due to the lack of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, erectile dysfunction, residuals from a stroke, seizure disorder, and chronic headache disorder are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or are not related to his active military service.