Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for new examinations and updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches started during his second period of active duty service and have continued since. The Veteran is granted service connection for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, to include as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and medical inquiry, including obtaining SSA records, prison records, and VA examinations.

The Veteran's mixed headaches, characterized by mild to moderate pain and occasional prostrating attacks, do not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating than 30 percent.

The Veteran's tension headaches are found to be related to service, including head and facial injuries sustained during active duty. The Board grants direct service connection for the condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of IBS and service connection for cholecystectomy, peptic ulcer disease, esophageal spasm, muscle tension headaches, and memory loss have been granted. The effective date is set at the date of receipt of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for review of additional evidence submitted by the Veteran, and further development is needed before a decision can be rendered regarding the issue of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for a migraine headache disability.

The Veteran's residuals of cerebellar hematoma and cavernous malformation with residual neurologic/cognitive deficits have been granted a combined initial rating of 70 percent, which includes headaches. The separate evaluation for headaches is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a vocational assessment regarding her ability to work due to her service-connected disabilities, as the current evidence is insufficient for a determination on whether she is entitled to a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions are still pending.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for increased evaluations of his service-connected migraine headaches and PTSD.,For migraine headaches, the Board found that an effective date of January 15, 2001, but no earlier, is warranted.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected headache syndrome has been granted at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, which is the highest possible under the applicable diagnostic code. The appeal was denied as there are no additional symptoms or factors that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are rated at the maximum schedular disability rating of 50 percent, which is appropriate given his very frequent and severe prostrating attacks.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disorders, as well as other issues, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for headaches and brain damage.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a scheduled videoconference hearing. The appeal is now pending and will be heard at a later date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, and the Board does not have further jurisdiction to consider them.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches/migraines had their onset during active military service and are related to his service, thus granting service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and a pending claim for service connection for headaches. The TDIU rating issue will be reconsidered after addressing the service connection claim.