Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims for service connection for anemia, colon polyps, and headaches.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and chronic headaches did not begin in service or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cognitive residuals, including headaches and a facial scar, are due to his service-connected TBI. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability, right arm and headache/dizziness disabilities, back and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral hip, hand, and elbow disabilities are not service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and found that the Veteran does not have any residuals of TBI. The claims for service connection for headaches, impairment of concentration and memory remain pending.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for posttraumatic headaches as a residual of service-connected TBI since November 26, 2013. The Veteran's headaches were found to be very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for SLE, chronic urticaria, migraine headaches, anemia, depression, ankle disorder, bladder infections, and tunnel vision. The evidence received since the August 2004 denial relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and therefore, he cannot be granted service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10% for TBI and a compensable rating for headaches prior to October 20, 2014 has been denied. The evidence did not show objective cognitive impairment or prostrating attacks for headaches.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion from the VA neurologist regarding whether the Veteran's headaches are aggravated by his service-connected seizure disorder, and to provide a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's headache disorder is due to or aggravated by his service-connected depression.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 50% since the entire period on appeal, with very frequent prostrating and prolonged attacks causing severe economic inadaptability.

The Board found no evidence of a diagnosis or treatment for hypertension in service, and denied the Veteran's claim. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish that his current headaches are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of those related to PTSD and depressive disorder. The remaining conditions are either already established or not yet determined.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and the claim for service connection has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities and their relationship to military service. The case will be returned to the Board after these opinions have been obtained.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the award of a TDIU, but his claim is dismissed as the August 2012 rating decision is final.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current headache disorder and there is no evidence linking any such condition to service. As such, the claim for service connection for a headache disorder is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, acquired psychiatric disability (insomnia and depression), numbness of bilateral upper arms, headaches, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine prior to August 20, 2009 and after October 31, 2009 are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, arranging for a VA examination of the right knee disability and medical opinion regarding functional loss during flare-ups, and considering whether to apply revised rating criteria for TBI.