Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination. The issues of service connection for low back disorder, headaches disorder, and right hip disorder are pending.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, or residuals of head injury. The appellant's claims were denied as the preponderance of the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, brainstem and headache disorders due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,Specifically, the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is considered congenital in nature and not shown to be related to his military service. His headaches are also considered chronic but not linked to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service, and is therefore denied.,Service connection for a left arm disorder remains pending as the issue has been remanded.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of the Veteran's right knee disability, as well as his right ankle, left ankle, low back, and right hip disabilities. The case is also remanded to obtain updated treatment records and provide new VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions did not develop due to service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 50%, which does not meet the threshold percentage requirements for TDIU. The appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to outstanding service treatment records from the Veteran's second period of active duty. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new medical examination.

The Veteran is granted TDIU and has a combined disability rating of 90 percent, meeting the criteria for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection, a higher rating for migraine headaches, and TDIU due to lack of evidence linking his current conditions to in-service exposures or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's post-traumatic headaches, including those associated with a traumatic brain injury, are manifested by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The Board finds that the criteria for a disability rating of 50 percent have been met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine and tension headaches as residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a compensable initial rating for a left knee disability based on instability effective from April 7, 2009. The case is to be readjudicated after all development has been completed.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and headaches have been reopened, with the latter being granted as they are related to in-service depression. The Veteran's right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities remain unresolved.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on several conditions have been dismissed due to voluntary withdrawals by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not service-connected, as there was no evidence of a pre-existing injury or chronic condition during service. The most recent VA examination did not find clear and unmistakable evidence of a preexisting condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were granted. Service connection was established for migraine headaches, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and low back disability. The Veteran received a 100% rating for her left knee patellofemoral syndrome effective from April 6, 2011.