Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that his impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to total occupational and social impairment. The Veteran also does not qualify for SMC as he has no other service-connected disability rated at least 60%.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed residuals of head trauma, finding that these conditions are directly related to his in-service head injury. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches has been granted, with the condition being characterized as a direct result of his active duty service. Service connection for blurred vision was denied.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to her combined service-connected disabilities, which include migraines, radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities, thoracolumbar levoscoliosis and herniated nucleus pulposus, hypertension, coccyx neuropathy, and a scar. The Board finds that she meets the criteria for a TDIU based on her combined service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acne disability existed prior to his service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying service connection for acne.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of TBI, scarring of the head, left ear hearing loss, PTSD, right knee disability, migraine headaches, and skin disability. The Veteran did not have a scar on his head at any time during the appeal period. His migraines were rated as 10 percent disabling based on characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months.

The Veteran's diagnosed tension headaches were not caused by or related to his service-connected sinusitis and/or heart disorder, and the Board finds that there is no evidence of a nexus between the current diagnosis and military service.

The Board is unable to grant service connection for the Veteran's skin disorder, lung disorder, and headache disorder due to lack of evidence showing in-service onset or causation. The case must be remanded to obtain a new VA examination and opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected post-concussion/trauma headaches. The case will be readjudicated after this.

The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for his service-connected tension headaches and migraines from December 23, 2008 to July 15, 2009.,A subsequent increased rating of 50 percent was assigned effective July 15, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck disability with headaches is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination, as well as the inextricability of the two issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including Lyme disease and its residuals, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, memory loss, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, headaches, cognitive impairment, dizziness and poor balance, tinnitus, heart disorder, splenomegaly, diffuse myelitis, organic disease of the nervous system (to include chronic pain), and radial neuropathies of the feet and hands were denied as these conditions are not related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and will handle any further development as required.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for increased ratings and TDIU, as well as a SMC claim. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is currently rated at 20 percent, effective January 14, 2010. The noncompensable rating for migraines and cervicogenic headaches remains in effect since January 14, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are so severe as to prevent her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting TDIU.

The Veteran's headache disorder was incurred during service and has continued since, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, asbestosis, asthma, and chronic headaches have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for a pre-existing condition (childhood asthma) that was aggravated by service.