Migraines & headaches decisions — 2016

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, skin problems/disorder, heel spurs, headaches/migraines, dizziness/vertigo, leg pain, CFS, and lumbar spine disability. The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing a current disability in most cases.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic headache disorder is assigned the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and her acquired psychiatric disability claim has been denied.,There is no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disability during active duty or ACDUTRA service. The Veteran was provided a speculative diagnosis of organic personality syndrome secondary to head concussion.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his VA treatment records from Sepulveda VAMC. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including the issues related to headaches, thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disability, and peripheral nerve conditions. The increased rating claims for left knee and cervical spine disabilities are also part of this appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration of service connection claims for migraines and depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an undiagnosed illness to include as due to Gulf War syndrome is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various spine and hip conditions, as well as headaches, have been granted. The Veteran now has service connection for a cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, headaches, left hip disabilities, right hip disabilities, and bilateral hip disabilities.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, effective from March 19, 2014. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's headaches and cervical spine disorder are related to service, but his acquired psychiatric disability is not.,The Veteran's hair loss claim has no new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including gastroesophageal disability, tension headache disability, osteoarthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine, bilateral plantar fasciitis with degenerative changes at the first metatarsophalangeal joint, cervical strain with degenerative joint and disc disease, left knee orthopedic disability, left elbow nerve disability, and tinnitus, meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected PTSD and his claimed Crohn's disease and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and fatigue are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Board granted a 30% disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic headaches, effective from June 26, 2009. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not meet criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and headaches, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service or his service-connected spine disabilities. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for increased ratings for his spine and foot disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating and extraschedular rating for residuals of fracture of the right zygoma, finding that his disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5296. The Board also found no evidence of any loss of skull or brain hernia.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including obtaining VA treatment records, determining service connection based on exposure in inland waters, and providing medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of each condition.

The Veteran's post traumatic headaches are rated at 30 percent prior to June 23, 2015 and 30 percent thereafter. The rating is based on the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 8100 (migraines) due to characteristic prostrating attacks occurring once a month.

The Veteran's claim for an extra-schedular evaluation for his service-connected migraine headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence, including a Social and Industrial Survey.

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