Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are currently rated at 50 percent, effective from September 17, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a dorsal spine disability, degenerative lumbar spine disorder, head injury/traumatic brain injury, memory loss, right ear and eye fluttering, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), cervical spine disability, left leg disorder to include genu varum of the knee, pulmonary disability to include asbestosis, generalized arthritis, right leg disorder to include genu varum of the knee, and migraine headaches have been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence showing a direct connection between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for migraines and chronic fatigue syndrome or SEID. The other claims were denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain potentially relevant records from OPM. The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for headaches is now pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for new VA examinations to assess his service-connected tension headaches and left knee disability. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for headaches and dizziness, claimed as due to an in-service concussion. The RO has denied this claim but the Board finds that it must be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's essential tremors are attributable to service and granted service connection. The claims for increased disability evaluation, migraine headaches, inguinal hernia, and TDIU remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds no evidence of a current respiratory disorder or eye disability related to service. The Veteran's gastrointestinal and psychiatric conditions are found to be secondary to his spine disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting new examinations to assess his service-connected adjustment disorder with depression and cluster headaches.

The Veteran's migraines have resulted in very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's cervical disc syndrome, C6-C7, is found to be proximately due to his service-connected low back strain. The Veteran's headaches are not found to be related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's headaches, characterized by frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, have been rated at 50% since April 29, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Migraine Headaches.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent, the highest rating available under the applicable rating criteria. The cervical spine disability is also rated at its maximum allowable level (40 percent).

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 50 percent, the highest available rating under the applicable criteria. The heart burn claim has been dismissed as it was withdrawn during the hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and headache disability. The Veteran's conditions are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability, lower back disability, bilateral ankle disability, IBS with residuals of a parasite infection, and headaches have already been granted by the AMC.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for headaches, including as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI). The other issues, including reduction of the disability rating for posttraumatic headaches and entitlements related to PTSD and TDIU, are pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cause of death, listed as acute respiratory failure due to COPD, was not caused or substantially contributed to by any service-connected condition. The appellant's claim for a heart disability in service is unsubstantiated and speculative.