Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining medical records from DeKalb Medical and scheduling VA examinations to address the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records, verifying service periods, and scheduling appropriate examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for migraine headaches and PTSD, as well as his TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's headaches are not shown to be so severe as to meet the criteria for a higher initial rating of 50% under DC 8100, which requires very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The evidence does not support a finding that his headaches were 'completely prostrating' or 'prolonged,' nor is there sufficient evidence to establish that they are capable of producing severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since April 30, 2003. The Board has granted an effective date of April 30, 2003 for the TDIU.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU rating based on his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral knee and back conditions, headaches, and tinnitus. The Board has determined that additional medical opinion is needed to assess the impact of these disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and for further examinations of his service-connected traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are currently evaluated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and there is no legal basis for a higher evaluation. The claim for an increased rating for migraines has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, cervical muscle strain on the right side, bruxism, and headaches were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current hearing loss or eye condition disabilities, and there is no direct service connection established.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be etiologically related to his military service, and the Board finds that a preponderance of the evidence supports granting service connection for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The VA examiner found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed headache condition, but reports chronic and frequent headaches. The examiner opined that it is less likely than not that his claimed headaches are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder is granted, secondary to his Bell's palsy and headaches. His Bell's palsy residuals are rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder manifested by insomnia and headaches, as well as his claim for an increased rating for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB).

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches is granted as his current condition incepted during active duty and there is credible evidence supporting this finding.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of entitlement to service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, hypertension, migraines, or lumbar strain.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, and the Board finds that her PTSD is related to an in-service personal assault. The Veteran's other psychiatric disorders (unspecified psychotic disorder and borderline personality disorder), headache disorder, fibromyalgia, and fibroid tumors are not found to be directly related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and headache disorder are related to his period of service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions. The Veteran is currently rated at 70% for PTSD.